We got Jesus to sing about

Something to Sing About

Harold Bosley recalled a story out of the days of the Great Depression in the early 1930s…

A panel of speakers, including Clarence Darrow, the distinguished attorney and professed atheist, was addressing a meeting of people from Chicago’s Southside – most of them African American.  The economic conditions were at their worst: money and jobs were scarce, and Darrow used that fact to point out the plight of the African American people.  He summed up their woes, concluding,

“And yet you sing?  No one can sing like you do!  What do you have to sing about?”

Quick as a flash, a lady in the congregation shouted, “We got Jesus to sing about!”

And her response was followed by many “Amens” and “Yeses” and “That’s rights.”

Uncharacteristically, Darrow for once had no response, for he was face to face with that which cannot be rationalized, hardly even talked about, in human terms – people who can sing through tears and above their fears because they walk with the One who strengthens them to do all things. *

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

In His last discourse to His disciples before He was crucified, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Note that Jesus says that in the world, we will have “tribulation” – trouble, problems.

But He also says, “In ME you may have peace.”

That peace – the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) – is not found in having ideal circumstances.  It is found in Christ.  Truly, no matter how difficult life can get, we can have peace in Christ.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins so that through Him, we can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) and enjoy the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), including “the peace that surpasses all understanding.”

The way to reconciliation with God and that blessed peace is: placing your faith and trust in Christ (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  The way to continual peace is to continue to walk in the light of His Word.  As we do that, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Won’t YOU trust and obey Jesus?  Then, no matter how difficult life may get, you will always have something (or Someone!) to sing about!

-- David A. Sargent