Stay Tuned

Stay tuned!

I hadn't heard that phrase in a very long time!

The other day I was listening to a musical group that has been posting one song at a time from their new album.  After they were done with this particular song the leader of the singing group said, "Stay tuned."  

"Stay tuned." I immediately thought how appropriate that is, especially for Christians.

I have children and many family members and friends that play instruments.  I know that they work tirelessly to keep them tuned.  Otherwise, when they go to play them they will not sound like they are supposed to.

They have invested in all kinds of tuning instruments to make their instruments sound good.

Some of these people have many different instruments and I can guarantee that each one is tuned a bit differently.  Even if it is the same instruments, a bass guitar and a bass guitar, an acoustic guitar and a different acoustic guitar, and so forth.

Not one of them is tuned to exactly the same.

The procedure might be similar but it is a bit different for each of them.

And you wouldn't tune an electric guitar the same way that you tune an electric banjo.

Each instrument is unique unto itself.

Unique unto its master as well.

The musician gets to know each instrument.  He knows the feel of it.  He knows how it is supposed to sound.  He knows when it is out of tune and when it is playing at it's best.

There was a story going around regarding an old violin that had come up for auction.

It was battered and torn and didn't look like much.  It was presented to the buyers.

The auctioneer announce that he had one more item.

An old violin!

He holds it up for all to see.

"Who'll start the bid for this violin?  One dollar?  Who'll make it two?"

The auction wasn't going well.

Then a man from the back of the room comes forward.

He gently picks up the instrument that had seen better days.  

He wipes the dust from it.  He listens to the strings and adjusts them as the audience watches.

After a few minutes he picks up the bow and plays a sweet melody.

The audience is clearly moved as the gentleman sets the instrument back in it's place.

The auctioneer picks up the old violin that had been worthless just moments before, but this time he held it up with the bow.

"Who will give me $1000.00, who'll make it $2000.00?"

Someone cried out, "How is it that it worth so much more now?  What made the difference?"

The auctioneer wisely responded, "It was the touch of the masters hand."

Isn't that just like Jesus, our Master, our Redeemer.

We sometimes let our lives get out of tune with our maker, the master designer.

When we first came to Christ, we got tuned.

But over time, we don't always stay that way.

We let worries, we let our will, our desires get in between us and the Master.

After a while we are no longer in tune with the calling that has been placed on our lives.

We get out of tune.

We let the oil run out of our lamps.  We allow the dirt and grime of this world to be our covering.

The Word of God tells us to stay tuned.

Maybe in not so many words, but it does.

He says He is coming for a church that is spotless.

A church that is listening for His voice.

A church that is walking and talking with Him, in communion with Him daily.

A church that is doing His will.

A church that is staying in tune.

We cannot stay tuned by ourselves.

We must let the Master do that.  We must let Him wipe the dust off of us and adjust us to back to where He would have us.

People, I pray that you would let yourself become the fine tuned instrument that God would have you be.

I pray that if you are feeling battered and torn, worn, not worth much, that you would allow that Masters hand to wash you clean and tune your heart.

I pray that you would allow Him to make you what you are intended to be.

Stay Tuned!