March 23

“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” 1 Corinthians 14:32

Suppose a musician is capable of playing three instruments, the piano, the organ, and the violin, with equal accomplishment. He may perform the same piece of music on each of them in turn, and since the three instruments possesses each its own distinct character, each performance will be a different work of art. The artist and music are the same, but each instrument in turn will provide its own unique flavor and color and feel.

The Lord’s servants in the New Testament somewhat resemble these musical instruments. The same Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached through the pen of four different evangelists, giving us a picture of him in four dimensions. How this enriches our understanding of him! Under the government of the Holy Spirit, this personal element of each, far from clouding our view of God’s living Word, enhances and interprets it all the more wonderfully. Is it surprising, then, that each of us, reading the Bible, encounters Christ in terms that match his own situation?