New Songs

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
-Psalms 40:1-8=

Quick Quiz: What sings with high- and low-pitch groanings and changes tunes all the time?

a. Your roommate in the shower.
b. A beginning oboe player.
c. The beginning humpback whale.

Answer: If you guessed c, you're correct. (But, I've never heard your roommate.)

The humpback whale has one of the strangest songs in nature. It makes weird sound combinations, varying its song all the time. These giants of the deep continually create new sound patterns and drop old ones, in effect singing a new song.

This makes me think of followers of Christ. We should be composing new songs all the time-songs of praise for the fresh mercies of God. As we grow in Christ and have new experiences serving Him, our praise song will change.

Unfortunately, many of can't sing new songs because we are not maturing or having anything new or exciting happening in our relationship with Christ. We're singing the same old song because we're in the same old rut.

The psalm writer said, however, that God keeps on working many wonderful things in the lives of His people, and that each one gives us a new reason to express His praise. (Ps. 40:5)

How about our song? Are we still singing the same tune we did last year? Two years ago? If so, we need a fresh experience of the mercies of the cross and the power of Christ's resurrection(Phil. 3:10). And that comes only through growth and accepting new opportunities to serve Him.

The gospel story never changes. Thank God that it doesn't! But as growing, serving Christians entering a new year, our songs of praise should never end. - Mart De Haan

Taken from Campus Journal 1995