"Of Tubas and Piccolos"

“Of Tubas and Piccolos”

 

For about two years the Men’s Bible Study in our New Hampshire church explored the Book of Acts. During one session we ran across a phrase in which Jesus described the newly converted Saul of Tarsus as “My chosen instrument.” (9:15). We shared ideas about what this meant and concluded that God had a specific purpose for His new servant. We then realized that we’re all chosen instruments to get His work done in the ways He’s equipped us.

Someone then asked if this had anything to do with musical instruments, which took the discussion in a different direction. I’d never thought of it in this way, but the longer I pondered it the more I saw how appropriate the picture is. Each instrument in an orchestra has a unique role and something is lost if another tries to take its place. Can you imagine a tuba’s trying to play the piccolo solo in “Stars and Stripes Forever”? Or violins the trumpets’ part in “Buglers’ Holiday”? Talk about chaos and discord!

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul (the “chosen instrument” of Acts 9:15) writes, “…To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (Verse 7). He goes on to describe some of the gifts which God by His Spirit has provided to carry out ministry and compares them to the parts of the human body and how each has a function which is needed by all the others. Just as the tuba can’t replace the piccolo without impacting the orchestra’s blend, and our eyes can’t do what our ears are intended to, neither can a non-functioning part of Christ’s Body (His Church) be adequately compensated for by the others—something is lost.

We’re all “His chosen instruments”, set apart for our special role in God’s plan. Will each of us play our tuba or piccolo in the symphony of ministry He has for us?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan