The Recital of Life

     Playing an instrument often brings along the opportunity to perform, whether it be for a large group of people at a recital or some unsuspecting guests who, at your parent's request, have to listen as you put on a mini consort.  Although you may try, it isn't easy to wiggle out of these opportunities that arouse in you emotions of both excitement and fear.  You prepare and practice, hoping that when it comes time to perform, everything is perfect.  As I was sitting at the piano practicing, I began to contemplate how much life is like a recital.
       The nerves and fear of making mistakes when performing usually escalate as a room fills with people ready to hear you play.  It's the audience that causes you to become nervous as you think about playing a piece of music you have practiced without care many times before.  We do not fear that they will find a flaw in the music but a flaw in our ability to portray the music as it was originally intended. 
      It is the same way in life.  Whether we like it or not, people are always watching us.  For those who have truly been born again, there is a deep desire to live for Christ, honoring Him in our words, actions, attitudes and deeds.  We should want to live lives "worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27)  Longing that those around us might be pointed back to The Composer, we want to play the notes written out for us in God's Word with precision and accuracy.  All to often, however, we are distracted by a fear of messing up.     
     There is a difference in performing and playing.  We perform when we need to meet a standard.  The freeing truth of God's word is that the standard has already been met!  We have become the righteousness of God.  Christ took our sin and gave us His righteous perfection. (2 Cor. 5:21)  God now see's us through the lens of Christ.  There is no need to perform but rather the ability to play for the audience of One.
      When our eyes are set on what people think of us, we loose our heavenward focus.  On the other side of eternity we will have to give an account to God, not to man.  Remember this as you assess whether or not your life is filled with a living that is more to the tune of performing than playing.  We do not need to meet the standards of man but rather we should wholeheartedly long to obey the commands of God.  This longing is driven by a love for God with our focus fully set on Him. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works 

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:16 
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For to me to live is Christ....
Philippians 1:21

      "Oopps! I messed up!"  Don't worry, I have too.  Let me just encourage you, don't allow your mistakes to keep you from Christ.  Our weakness, sin and failure so often drives us away from the very One we need to run to as our pride tells us we can work harder or fix it on our own.  You can't.  Only He can.  Run to Him to find the mercy, forgiveness and the grace you need.  He readily bestows it when we repent.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12 

May the music of our lives be in key to the tune of God's Word rather than to the tune of this World as we seek His Kingdom first!