Daily EncouragementSample

So the word is to come through in the singing as well as in the preaching, in hymn as well as in sermon. It has been the happy experience of many to find that this is so in the private devotions. “Next to the Bible,” says Dr. Sangster’s son, “my father’s chief guide was the Methodist Hymn book.“ Such people will sing with understanding as they join in public worship.

There is a great wealth of the word available in “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.“ It is vital that we make the right choice of songs for our church services. It is so important to preserve and use the best, watching the words, so as not to lose the word. Our Scottish brethren are wise to have continued using the Psalms.

There has always been a place for “spiritual songs.” Tertullian writes of the early days: “Each is invited to sing to others in the presence of God from what he knows of the holy Scriptures or from his own heart.” In our enthusiasm for the new spiritual songs, we should not discard those traditional hymns which are truly worth keeping, and if we must delete or amend some verses, we should do so with discretion.

What we should aim for is an environment in which both preaching and singing minister the word to us and so create gratitude to God in our hearts.