The trumpeters and singers joined I N U N I S O N in unison, as with one voice, to ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ give praise and thanks to the LORD. -2 Chronicles 5:13 A devotional series for the choir, the worship leader, and anyone desiring to experience or lead in a deeper worship experience. [See the end of this file for more information on the complete series.] The In Unison series is written by David S. Lampel. #13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ E X C E L L E N C E : B E G I N N I N G Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. -Colossians 3:23 NIV The church choir is a microcosm of the entire, local church body. In the choir are both men and women, young and old, new Christians and mature. The choir is made up of people from all walks of life: laborers, white-collar workers, homemakers, artists, students and the unemployed. It is the church in miniature--with one exception. The church choir has been given the responsibility to lead the congregation in worshiping God. As a unit, it is the voice of the choir that leads out in the unfamiliar hymn; it is the voice of the choir, in its anthem, that paints a sound-picture of Scripture truth; it is the behavior of the choir that demonstrates a worshipful attitude; and it is the face of the choir that reflects the glory of the throne. In a sense, the choir can become a bridge between heaven and earth, spanning the gap between congregation and God. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God. -2 Chron 5:13-14 NIV Should we not be humbled by such a responsibility? Should we not vow, before God, to do our very best in this service? Can we, in good conscience, approach the time of worship with anything less than our very best? _________________________ Our relationship with our Maker is based on faith--not works. We do nothing to buy His favor, because His favor has already been purchased at the cross. We cannot add to that; we can only believe that it happened. Some, however, have committed themselves to the event of salvation while disregarding the process of living a life that has been saved. Some have confused the error of "salvation by works" with the call to "work out our salvation." Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. -Phil 2:12-13 NIV It is a hollow faith that ends with the right hand of fellowship. It is a shallow relationship that does not seek to please the one through whom salvation has been given. We have been warned against working to obtain that relationship, but we are encouraged to work as a result of that relationship--and thereby obey the one with whom it is shared. Excellence begins with obedience. More than that, excellence begins with the desire to obey. _________________________ "The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot concern him for very long; but even if the multiple burdens of time may be lifted from him, the one mighty single burden of eternity begins to press down upon him with a weight more crushing than all the woes of the world piled one upon another. That mighty burden is his obligation to God. It includes an instant and lifelong duty to love God with every power of mind and soul, to obey Him perfectly, and to worship Him acceptably." (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, HarperCollins, 1992) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Supplement to #13 A good source for this issue (as well as the next few) is the March 1994 issue of Aspects: "Soaring Into Greatness." _________________________ My Gracious Lord, I Own Thy Right My gracious Lord, I own Thy right to every service I can pay, And call it my supreme delight to hear Thy dictates, and obey. What is my being but for Thee, its sure support its noblest end? Thy ever smiling face to see and serve the cause of such a friend. I would not breathe for worldly joy, or to increase my worldly good; Nor future days or powers employ to spread a sounding name abroad. 'Tis to my Saviour I would live, to Him who for my ransom died; Nor could untainted Eden give such bliss as blossoms at His side. (Philip Doddridge) _________________________ Give of Your Best to the Master Give of your best to the master; give of the strength of your youth; Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor into the battle for truth. Jesus has set the example; dauntless was He, young and brave; Give Him your loyal devotion, give Him the best that you have. Give of your best to the master; give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part. Give, and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, give Him the best that you have. Give of your best to the master; naught else is worthy His love; He gave Himself for your ransom, gave up His glory above: Laid down His life without murmur, you from sin's ruin to save; Give Him your heart's adoration, give Him the best that you have. (Howard B. Grose) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in IN UNISON is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. With the appropriate copyright notice, this file may be used to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Unison was originally written for Music Ministers and Choir Directors to use in conjunction with their weekly rehearsals. It was syndicated in printed form, camera-ready for inclusion in choir newsletters or to be read to the choir as a devotional. It has also been used by Pastors and lay-leaders in many capacities. In Unison is evangelical, and speaks from the position that the choir does not perform for its own pleasure--nor for the pleasure of the congregation--but is, instead, a "prompter" leading and demonstrating the corporate worship for the pleasure of God. Each choir member--as well as every other leader standing on the platform--is responsible to do everything to point the congregation upward to God. In Unison also encourages individual and corporate excellence, based on the premise that after His sacrifice for us, our Lord deserves nothing less. Most issues of In Unison consist of two parts: * The main article has been written to be the "public" portion--either re-printed for each choir member or read to them during a devotional time. * The Supplemental material (accompanying most issues) has been included for the director or leader to use as background to further his or her own study. There is a total of 19 issues making up the complete In Unison series, representing by the following outline: 1. With One Voice 11. Because He Deserves It 2. Up Words 12. A Longing to Be Near Him 3. Loving One Another 13. Excellence: Beginning 4. Demonstrating Praise 14. Excellence: The Debt 5. The Spirit and the Flesh 15. Excellence: For the Prize 6. Three Little Words 16. Excellence: Why? 7. Obeying Our Parent 17. To Be Like Him 8. A Fragrant Offering 18. In Spirit and Truth 9. Worship the King 19. Honesty 10. His Wish, Our Desire ------------------------------------------------------------------- In Unison is distributed free-of-charge, without obligation, in service to our Lord and to His glory. Reader opinions are always welcome, as are insights into the published material. Send all comments to the address below. We always appreciate hearing when someone has been edified by this work. ------------------------------------------------------------------- To receive the complete series via e-mail, inquire with questions, or comment on the material send your request to: "dlampel@dlampel.com" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David S. Lampel "For from Him and through Him Winterset, IA USA and to Him are all things. dlampel@dlampel.com To Him be the glory forever. Amen." 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