Jazz

"harmonious"-suitable and fitting; existing together in correspondence with others

My favorite chapter from Paul Tripp's book A Quest for More is chapter twelve: Jazz. Tripp says the bottom line is "God calls us to the vertically interactive lifestyle of living in moment-by-moment harmony with Him" (143).

Being a music-lover and ex-band member myself, I really connected with Tripp in this concept of our relationship with the Lord and big kingdom living being like jazz. The thing about music is that it is very structured; certain notes and chords sound good together while others clash. Music follows a set of rules. But jazz is a little different. Jazz musicians are free to be creative and wonder from these rules. But this only works if they stay within the musical parameters of the song.

I remember warming up in middle school band. Each band member played something different, whether it was scales or a section of the music we were working on. It sounded horrible! There was no structure; we were all over the place. Then, as we began the song together as a group, the notes and chords meshed beautifully together in a musical masterpiece.

In a different setting, a jazz band warms up in the same way but they have more freedom in playing the pieces. They freestyle a little more. But if they don't follow the general structure of the song, they sound like they are just warming up.

God's kingdom is like a jazz kingdom. He provides structure in His Word. We follow those guidelines just like jazz musicians do. But the thing is, God doesn't provide every note on the page. "What you are given are very important parameters [. . .] and you are invited by the Great Composer to make redemptive jazz inside of that structure [. . .] God hasn't given us sheet music. He has composed a structure that liberates us to improvise within the structure, and all the while listening intently to one another and to him" (150).

Why hasn't He given us everything? Why hasn't He told us exactly what to do in every situation in our lives? He certainly ordained every moment, but He doesn't reveal that to us. "What he wants for us and from us is much bigger than dogged obedience to a set of standards. What he wants is us! He wants to be the treasure of our hearts and the joy of our souls. He wants to know the same community with us that he has known with himself in the Trinity. He is after a relationship with us! So, he gives us just what we need. We know the key that we are to play, and he has revealed to us what they time signature is, but he has not told us exactly what to do and say in all the moments of life where we will be making music with him. And he does this because he wants us to seek him, pray to him, and rely on him as we are improvising our way through life" (151).

Now the question is, where in your life are you tempted to write your own music rather than making harmonious music with the King? For me, it is my future. I always wrestle with God on my plans for the next few years. I "plan" to start graduate school in the fall, finish in 3 or 4 semesters and then move somewhere to be a part of the Teach for American program. I want to stay in the U.S. for "security" reasons like a stable job and job benefits. I often have to ask myself if this is really what God wants. And I don't know the answer yet. He hasn't revealed that to me yet. He is going to wait until the last minute to reveal what He wants me to do with my career. Until then, He is teaching me to trust in Him and rely on Him. It's working!

Put down your music and take up His. Quit composing your own music; harmonize with Him.

Please continue to pray for CCP. I want to harmonize with Him for the gospel overseas.

In Christ,
Christine ><>