Playing On Purpose By Pete BriscoeShembull

Beat Up Guitars

Not for ourselves alone are we born. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

When a masterful musician plays an instrument, no one stands to praise the instrument. All praise goes to the master.

What’s more—in the hands of a master—any old instrument will do, right?

Have you ever walked a city’s downtown streets and observed the musicians? Many are down and out, holding a guitar marked by struggle. Yet the crowds gather when a masterful musician plays.

Many of us feel like those beat-up guitars. Life has been hard. We don’t feel capable of beauty. But in the hands of the Master, we sound beautiful. As the Master plays His tune through our lives, others pause to listen and praise.

Paul wrote to Timothy on this very topic:

[We are] instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

Maybe you’re thinking: All of that sounds lovely, Pete. But how does it work?

Remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever…
And He indwells believers by His Spirit…
And He expresses Himself through us if we let Him…
So His life in us today is going to look like His life among us 2,000 years ago.

In the hands of the Master, our lives will sound like the life of Jesus.

Of course, Jesus was mistaken for a beat-up guitar, too. When the people in His hometown synagogue heard Jesus announce His intention to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecies, they asked each other, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22).

In other words, “Didn’t we watch you grow up? Aren’t you an ordinary guy with ordinary issues of your own? Maybe you should work on those.”

But they were mistaken.

Jesus was someone specially set apart—and the same is true of His followers as well. As we’re used by our great and gracious Master, the melody of our lives will sound like the melody of Jesus.

Giver of New Life, I feel like a guitar in a pawnshop, staring out my window at the music store across the street that’s showing off a shiny, new guitar. What grace that You choose both of us as being worthy! Spirit, play the melody of Your life through me—loud and clear to rally the praises. Amen.