A 15 minute catch-up call with a dear friend really got me thinking: Even while my friend and I consistently serve side by side at church , it’s often hard to get a full account of how the other is really doing.  If we aren’t in ministry mode, than we’re in mommy mode. Every now and then we have to make a pointed effort to re-connect – even if its on our car ride to work or the pick up line at school.  After one such phone call I remember being so refreshed and even mentioned that I felt much more “in tune”  – she is a kindred spirit when it comes to music, hence the term 😉 The concept of intonation and being in tune resurfaced as I pondered what this means in our relationship with God.

I’ve realized that intonation is just as important in the life of a Christian as it is in the life of a musician.  What is intonation? Basically intonation is being in tune, or singing and playing a pitch/note with such precision, neither the slightest bit low (aka flat “b”) or the teensiest bit high (aka sharp “#”). Someone who is  “tone deaf” can’t seem to hear or audiate the correct pitches in their mind before playing them. Audiating pitches is the first step in achieving good intonation. The Point is This Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; Just like musicians, we as Christians have a very important instrument to play – our life’s purpose is to mirror and reflect Jesus. We too need to GET  in tune and STAY in tune. If you go to an orchestra concert, the first thing you’ll hear before any pieces are performed is each individual tuning to the concertmasters note “A” – For Christians, we tune our lives to our Great Concertmaster, replicating his pitch as closely as we can – This requires waiting and listening, just as an orchestra waits for the concertmaster to walk out onto the stage and tune the ensemble. For us in our relationship with Jesus,  it means not just speaking or playing TO Jesus, but actually conversing and collaborating WITH  Him – this requires the most attentive listening on our part. 

A conversation is a two way street. How can we be spiritually in tune if we don’t actually stop and be still – to prioritize silence in expectation of what He will say to us in return, and thus fine tune our hearts and minds to audiate the voice of God?  Only then can we perform the music of our faith, love and servitude to Him and those around us.  “How can we be spiritually in tune if we don’t actually stop and be still – to prioritize silence in expectation of what He will say to us in return, and thus fine tune our hearts and minds to audiate the voice of God? ” John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.  If we don’t move out of the way and let Him speak, if we don’t surrender, dying to ourselves each day – then we’re at risk for the poorest intonation – why? There is no need to listen when we ourselves are the one calling all the shots.  1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If we aren’t dedicated to using our ears to discern His voice and His Word, chances are the music of our life, and faith and ministry, or lack thereof, is liken to a pitchy, noisy, obnoxious gong.  Our outpouring must be a direct result of His inpouring. I wonder sometimes how many of us, myself included, are “pitchy” in the way we live out our faith?   “Our outpouring must be a direct result of His inpouring” Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Let the tuning begin! Katy