“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
I was fortunate to be raised in a home where “church music” was greatly appreciated, taught, and passed along to the next generation. We kids were encouraged to sing, play piano, and take up an instrument. But I had no idea then what a gift my parents were giving me.
Fast-forward many years: Shortly after I was incarcerated and received a Gideon New Testament Bible, I asked a friend to send me a hymnal. When it arrived, I immediately began memorizing all those wonderful hymns I’d sung as a child. And I discovered that the middle verses of the songs (it seems like we often were led to “sing verses one and four”!) filled in the whole message of the hymn. In their entirety, they spoke plainly of important truths every believer should know.
Repeating these songs has become a refreshing time of encouragement and growth as I face the daily unknowns of prison life. It has caused me to “dance with the doctrines” not only of grace (as in Ephesians 2:8-9), but also of salvation, justification, redemption, sanctification, and glorification.
Fast-forward many years: Shortly after I was incarcerated and received a Gideon New Testament Bible, I asked a friend to send me a hymnal. When it arrived, I immediately began memorizing all those wonderful hymns I’d sung as a child. And I discovered that the middle verses of the songs (it seems like we often were led to “sing verses one and four”!) filled in the whole message of the hymn. In their entirety, they spoke plainly of important truths every believer should know.
Repeating these songs has become a refreshing time of encouragement and growth as I face the daily unknowns of prison life. It has caused me to “dance with the doctrines” not only of grace (as in Ephesians 2:8-9), but also of salvation, justification, redemption, sanctification, and glorification.
Scripture Focus
Psalm 119:9-16
Insight
Written by Stephen R., California State Prison, Corcoran, CA. Please pray for Stephen as he studies God’s Word and writes encouraging words for others.
Bible In A Year
- Leviticus 14
- Psalm 53
- Luke 17