“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.†(Proverbs 3:5-6)
WATCH THE DIRECTOR!
“Watch the director!†I cannot tell you just how many times I’ve heard that phrase or a variation of that phrase in my life, either coming out of my own mouth as a choir director or teacher, or as a student, first in children’s choir in church, then through junior high, high school or college band or choir. Whether it came from a choir director, band director, section leader, drum major, or otherwise, the admonition is still the same, “Keep your eyes on the director!†In other words, we were to be completely focused in on whoever was in front of us at that time either directing or giving instruction. The more we focused in we were on what that person did, the more likely we were to stay together and play or sing that particular piece of music. If we were distracted by anything outside of the director having our complete attention, the more likely we were to miss a note, drift out of position, or otherwise just miss the next instruction. If you were caught drifting off, the rebuke was sure to come, “Watch the director!â€
I was reminded once again of this fact when I recall one particular Sunday a couple of years ago just how valuable that instruction was when I was working with my youth choir as the church's minister of music. The previous Saturday afternoon’s rehearsal was probably one of the best we had ever had, and I felt pretty confident that the next day’s service would go just as well. Once we started on the first song, however, it became immediately evident to me that the attention was not there. When I happened to glance up into the choir stand, the reason was also obvious: about half the choir was looking into the audience, at the child standing next to them, or at me on the piano, everywhere except at the director standing next to me. Once again, I felt those words well up in me, so I mouthed out without speaking, “Watch the director!†I had no idea at that time that the Lord was setting me up for another object lesson and revelation in Him.
It is both amazing and astonishing to me (especially as I consider myself,) as to how many of us, as sons and daughters of God, also fail to comply with this simple directive in our personal lives, to watch the Director. Proverbs 3:6 clearly tells us that if we acknowledge God in all our ways, He will direct our paths. The problem, however, lies in our failure to comply with verse 5, “Trust in Him with all our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding.†It’s amazing to me as to how, whenever circumstances and situations turn adverse and begin to get out of our control, that we begin to run here and there, we begin to run to this person or that person which may or may not be able to help us, (and oftentimes, are not able to help us,) and we begin to get so distracted and overwhelmed by our failure to pull it all together that we begin to question God as the disciples once asked Jesus, “Carest Thou not that we perish?†(Mark 4:38) The issue, then, becomes a simple matter of trust: do I trust Him enough to keep my eyes focused on Him, even though everything around me demands that I pay attention to it rather than to Him?
Peter illustrates this point so beautifully in Matthew 14 as he steps out of the ship to go walk on the water with Jesus. Peter trusts Jesus enough so that when he asked Jesus if it were Him, to tell him to come out on the water, that when Jesus speaks the word, “Come,†Peter steps out, without hesitation, to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:28-29) Peter’s problem, however, comes in verse 30, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid…†Peter had enough experience with Jesus to know that He had full control of the seas (see Matthew 8:26-27), and had been witness to no shortage of Jesus’ creative miracles, so he trusted Jesus enough to get out and walk on the water. But when he began to think that what he himself was doing was impossible, (walking on the water in the middle of a storm,) and saw the wind and the storm, he began to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!†Jesus’ rebuke of Peter was a gentle, yet firm one, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?†(Matthew 14:31) Jesus could have very well have asked him, “Why did you take your eyes off of me? Don’t forget, I’m directing this storm…â€
Maybe that’s why God tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to seek His face. Maybe that’s why Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God. After all, He is the Creator of the Universe. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He is the one that reminds us in Jeremiah that before He formed us, He knew us, He sanctified us, or set us apart, and He ordained us. He is the Alpha and the Omega, He is from everlasting to everlasting, He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. To put it in today’s language, He is the scr i pt Writer, He is the Composer, He IS the Director.
The next time you feel distracted with life’s circumstances or overwhelmed with your out-of-control situations, ask yourself, “Am I watching my Director?â€
Keeping my eyes on Him, (or, at least, trying!)
Pastor Ced |
