1 Corinthians 14:7 “If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played” . . .

. . . Romans 6:13 “offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

Take a few minutes to pray silently and ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate the soil of your heart for truly hearing His words.  Then, read the above passages twice through slowly.  Before jumping into the devotion below, what is the Spirit “devoting” to you?  What words or phrases stick out?  What does this metaphor stimulate in your imagination of God, of self, of the world? Ponder this first and offer it back to the Lord in prayer. 

If lifeless means there is no play in an instrument, then at least in some part the symbolism of “full of life” must be connected to “play.”  We say an instrument comes to life when played by a maestro!  As kids when our parents won’t play with us, we accuse them of being boring. . . only because we don’t yet have “lifeless” in our vocab.  This is true of our bodies as well. The Spirit-inspired scriptures liken us to instruments (Romans 6:13).  Here again, an instrument is brought to life by the Spirit of God in all righteousness (right relationship to God and others).  Could play actually be an offering of our bodies in right relationship to God and each other?  Jesus’ sacrifice has completely redeemed our lives and our bodies!  And our bodies (both individual and corporate) are now animated and made good by the Holy Spirit.  How will anyone know what is played if we are not playing?  Could play be a distinct note of the gospel that our souls need to sing for our own formation as well as for the gentle wooing of the world?!!

Questions to ponder and fodder for prayer

  • What does play in your life have to do with an instrument being played? What are the implications for us as God’s instruments, redeemed and made righteous by Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross? 
  • What could playful and prayerful offering of worship look like in your life? In your community? 
  • Have you considered how play could be an offering of worship and a reminder of redemption?

Incarnate/Embody

  • What song(s) is played in your soul lately? How has the life-saving work of Jesus come to life through the life-giving Spirit in your in-between or unexpected spaces lately?  Tell the story to yourself in redemptive reminder!  Tell the story to another as the Spirit leads. . . maybe even ‘sing it playfully’
  • Story the joy/delight/play of God into the life of another today! Pray that the Holy Spirit would play the life-saving song of the gospel through you in joyful connection with another.