In tune

“When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations.” Ezekiel 29:27

My guitar had remained in the closet, untouched for at least 10 years, probably more. A nice guitar, it nevertheless “played like a beast” after having sat dormant for so long.

So I took it to a local guitar-maker and asked if they could work on my “Guild F-40 bluegrass flattop” to make it play better. They finished in just a couple of days and, upon picking it up, I was jaw-dropping astounded at the difference! Not only was the instrument much easier to play, its sound was more beautiful than I had ever heard it.

We live in a world grossly out of tune, don’t we? Melody has given way to dissonance; harmony is a memory. We look around for skilled conductors and find none. The world plays like a beast, we might say.

In times like this, we believers tend to blame others for the disharmony. But it is we whom God first calls to repentance. Why? Because it is through a sanctified church – a holy priesthood – that people truly experience the character of God.

When we turn from gossip and speak encouragement, people notice.
When we turn from blame and extend grace, their hearts hope.
When we turn from isolation to engagement, people welcome.
When we turn from pious pride to holy humility, their hearts thaw.
When we turn from greed to giving, people rejoice.
When we turn from lukewarm to hot, their hearts burn.
When we turn from sin and to God, people follow.

Ours is to submit our own out-of-tune hearts to the Craftsman who carefully readjusts them to his design. And when we do, others will gather to hear the Musician who plays beautifully through a re-tuned us.

Repentance begins in us. The blessings resound throughout the world around us.

[Click here to see the daily reading in Ezekiel 39:25-29.]