Singing From the Heart: God’s Way of Worship

When you think about worship, what comes to mind? For some, it’s the sound of a choir, the swell of an organ, or the strum of a guitar. For others, it’s the simple, unaccompanied voices of Christians singing together. But instead of asking, “What do I prefer?” or “What sounds good to me?”—the better question is:  “What does God want?”

That question takes us straight to Ephesians 5:19, where Paul writes:  “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

This one verse says a lot about God’s desire for worship, and if we take it seriously, it challenges us to think deeply about how we praise Him.

If we add in what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts”, the emphasis becomes even clearer:  New Testament worship is built upon words, shared in song, flowing from hearts filled with Christ.

God Asked for Singing

Notice Paul doesn’t say “play” or “strum.” He says “sing.” The Greek word used here (ado) means just that—to sing with the voice. This is not an accident, nor is it vague. God chose His words carefully. When He wanted instrumental music in the Old Testament temple, He told the Levites to play (2 Chronicles 29:25). But when He described Christian worship under the new covenant, He told us to sing.

If I invite you to dinner and say, “Please bring dessert,” I don’t mean for you to also bring a pot roast and a bag of chips. I specified dessert. In the same way, when God specifies singing, that is what He expects.

The Instrument Is the Heart

Paul doesn’t stop there. He adds:  “making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

The Greek word psallō once referred to plucking strings, but by Paul’s time it had shifted in meaning—it meant “to sing praise.” To make sure there was no confusion, Paul points out the instrument:  the heart.

This is beautiful. God doesn’t want the twang of a string or the beat of a drum—He wants the melody of a heart devoted to Him. Anyone can make noise on an instrument, but only a surrendered heart can make music that pleases God.

Worship on God’s Terms, Not Ours

Now here’s the part that pushes against modern thinking:  worship is not about our preferences. We live in a world where people shop for churches the way they shop for shoes—looking for what feels comfortable, stylish, or entertaining. But worship is not about what entertains me; it’s about what honors God.

Think about it. If Noah had decided to build the ark out of oak or cedar instead of gopher wood, would God have been pleased? No—because God specified. In the same way, God has specified singing. Adding instruments may feel natural to us, but if He didn’t ask for it, is it really worship to Him?

Jesus put it plainly:  “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Worship in truth means worship on God’s terms, not ours.

The Witness of History

History backs this up. For the first several centuries after Christ, Christians sang without instruments. Clement of Alexandria (around 200 A.D.) warned against instruments, saying they belonged to pagan feasts, not Christian worship. Augustine said the true instrument of worship is the heart. Even the word “a cappella” literally means “in the style of the church.”

So, not only does the New Testament leave instruments out, but the early Christians understood it that way too.

Why It Matters

Some might say, “But instruments make worship richer!” Maybe they sound beautiful to us—but worship isn’t about pleasing us. It’s about pleasing God. If we love Him, shouldn’t we want to give Him what He asked for, not what we think He might enjoy?

Think of it like a gift. If your spouse asks for something simple and heartfelt, but you insist on giving them something flashy and expensive instead, who are you really thinking about—you or them? Worship works the same way. The question isn’t, “Do I like it?” but “Does God want it?”

Conclusion:  The Music God Loves

Ephesians 5:19 paints a clear picture:  God wants His people to lift their voices in song, making melody in their hearts. This is worship that is personal, spiritual, and God-centered.

When we obey Him in this, we’re not missing out—we’re actually stepping into the purest form of praise, the kind the apostles knew, the kind the early church practiced, the kind God desires.

So, the next time you lift your voice in worship, remember:  you are holding the only instrument God ever asked for—the heart. Play it well, and God will be pleased.

Jesus as Lord and Savior: Faith, Struggle, and True Success

As Christians, when we say that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are really acknowledging two sides of an incredible relationship. As our Savior, Jesus rescues us from sin and offers us eternal life through His death and resurrection (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). As our Lord, He calls us to live under His authority, surrendering our lives to His guidance and leadership (Luke 6:46; Philippians 2:9–11). Both are essential. Receiving Him as Savior gives us hope for eternity, but recognizing Him as Lord changes how we live every day.

Think of the lifeguard at the beach. If you are drowning and the lifeguard pulls you out of the water—that’s salvation. But if the same lifeguard then tells you, “Don’t go back into that dangerous current,” following his instructions is an act of obedience to his lordship. Jesus doesn’t just save us from death; He leads us into a new way of living.

Struggles in Faith

Faith is not always easy. Some of us think of it as more of a “ticket to heaven” than a daily walk with Christ. When we see Jesus only as Savior, our faith can turn passive—we’re grateful for His forgiveness but we resist any real change in our lives. James warns us not to deceive ourselves by merely hearing the word without doing something with it (James 1:22).

Others of us wrestle with trust. God’s timing often doesn’t match ours, and we often get impatient. We are tempted to cut corners or compromise our values. Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to “help” God fulfill His promise by having a child through Hagar (Genesis 16) shows how rushing ahead of God can bring us a lot of heartache.

And then there is the challenge of distraction. Pursuing more money, a better career, and more recognition can subtly replace our devotion to God. Jesus warned, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Mark 8:36). If we fix our eyes only on worldly success, our faith may quietly slide into the background. Then, over time, without prayer, Scripture, or Christian community, we may drift into spiritual stagnation—still professing faith but experiencing very little transformation.

Finding True Success Through Faith

But in reality, countless people do find a way to hold faith and success at the same time. The difference lies in their seeing Jesus not only as their Savior but also as their Lord. That subtle, but significant shift brings a new perspective:  their success isn’t just measured in promotions, possessions, or popularity—they measure it in faithfulness.

People who thrive spiritually and even professionally often share certain habits:

• Obedience – They apply biblical principles such as honesty, humility, and diligence. Daniel, for instance, refused to defile himself with the king’s food (Daniel 1:8). His obedience not only honored God but also set him apart because of his wisdom and trustworthiness.

• Trust in God’s Timing – Joseph’s life is a powerful example. Though he spent years in slavery and prison, he remained faithful, and in God’s perfect timing Joseph rose to second-in-command in all of Egypt (Genesis 41).
  
  

• Faith and Work Together – Nehemiah prayed earnestly for Jerusalem, but he also rolled up his sleeves and rebuilt the walls (Nehemiah 4:6). His success came through both his faith and his action.
  
  

• Service to Others – True success is really not just personal gain but it comes from lifting others up. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Think of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). His success was not defined by his status but by his compassion.
  
  

• Resilience in Trials – Paul faced many beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, yet he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His strength was not in circumstances but in Christ.

Bringing It All Together

In the end, Jesus as Savior gives us peace with God; Jesus as Lord gives us purpose in life. When we hold both together, our faith becomes active, growing, and life-shaping. Worldly success may come and go, but the one who follows Jesus as both Lord and Savior finds something much deeper and better—joy, meaning, and eternal hope.

It’s a bit like building a house. If Jesus is only our Savior, we may have the foundation—but if He is also our Lord, then the house is built, furnished, and we can live in it. We don’t just escape destruction; we experience abundant life (John 10:10).

So, the real question is not only, “Do I believe Jesus saved me?” but also, “Am I willing to let Him lead me?” When we are able to do both, we discover that the truest success is not found in what we build for ourselves but in who we become in Him.