Our Identity As Musicians

[WorshipVanguard]

Thanks for the encouragement, Mike. I'm reminded that there is actually a place in Israel where one's DNA can be tested to determine Levite ancestry. I found out about it after my dream, which makes the dream's interpretation more intriguing to me (especially since I'm a trumpet player). Now I want to go to Israel, and see if my dream literally revealed my ancient lineage. :-D

Hypothetically, I wonder how much more clarity we would have of ourselves once our lineage is revealed. Of course, it should not be from an entitlement standpoint, but more of a standpoint to understand who we are and what our potential is. Knowing our linage helps explain our tendencies, our motives, and our desired skill sets. When we understand our lineage good or bad, we would know what to confess and what to tightly hold. Same applies to our spirit. When we realize we are born of God (co-heirs with Christ, Kingdom priests, etc), how much more will that take us into the reality of God's kingdom? Again, still processing.

[bbrunskill]

Hypothetically, I wonder how much more clarity we would have of ourselves once our lineage is revealed. Of course, it should not be from an entitlement standpoint, but more of a standpoint to understand who we are and what our potential is.

Here I am, questioning again ;-)

I think for me, it is totally irrelevant what my ACTUAL lineage is.
When I choose to become a Christ-follower at age 4, I didn't really know what I was getting into.
But as the years pass (21 so far), I realise more and more that I have long ago signed away my rights to my family and my own lineage, and taken up Christ's.

Galatians 3:28 says: (Message Version)
28-29 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.

Romans 8:17:
God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.

If I follow my physical lineage back, I guess I'm a New Zealander, of mixed Scottish/Irish blood, before that, Viking, before that Middle Eastern. But as I see it, none of that matters an ounce. We are new creations in Christ, the old is gone, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:16-20
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.

So to conclude, I don't care who or what I once was, or where I come from. I'm new in Christ, being transformed by the renewing of my mind. I carry generational blessings from my earthly father, mother and 4 grandparents who were all believers.

I don't play music because I'm of 'that' tribe, I play it simply because God gave me that gift when he knitted me together in my mothers' womb, and I've chosen to live His way. That requires me to exercise my gifting and to dedicate it to Christ's service.

My potential is endless, not because I come from a certain tribe, but because Christ's promises are new every morning, and his Word NEVER returns void.

He will give me a hope and a future. He will use me to fulfill the great commission.

Here's my lineage: I am the son of the Most High God, and my older and much wiser brother is Christ Jesus, Savior and Lord.

And to finish:
Mathew 12:48
Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

[WorshipVanguard]

Thanks, Ben! All of what you said is true. There is no debate from me whatsoever. Only faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Moses is a great example from Hebrews 11. By faith, Moses rejected the way he grew up and identified with the Hebrews. “He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God” (Heb 11:24-28). We know we have greater value in Christ than in anything or anyone we may encounter in our lifetime. So, I’m all into what you are saying.

I’m trying so hard to explain what’s going on in my head, and it is tough! So please bear with me. There is a deepness and a richness we get when we learn from our ancestry. As an example, my parents are deep into genealogy. Our lineage is known going back to the 1700s when my ancestors emigrated from Germany. One immigrant ancestor planted a church shortly after coming to the US from Germany. He pastored two congregations; an English-speaking one and a German-speaking one – EVERY SUNDAY. Come to find out, there are several church planters in my family line. Why did it stop? What prevented the generations from continuing the legacy of church planting? Did they forget God’s covenants? What kind of legacy does God desire I leave? Is he calling me to reboot the church-planting legacy in my family? What does this mean to me as a female? What does this have to do with music? What does it have to do with my trumpet playing? How much of my dreams apply to all this? Note: I’m sifting through A LOT of dreams I’ve written down, asking God to piece together what he’s telling me so I may understand better.

When it comes to musicianship, my sisters are I are the only ones, to my knowledge, with musical sense. I don’t know any of my ancestors who had musical ability. However, it begs the question, where did it come from? So, I ask God since he always knows the answers. One of my thoughts takes me back to the OT where the musicians were all in ONE family. Over the years, the people of God scattered (Diaspora), and God desires to reunite us, making us ONE with him. Is it possible that those who are musically inclined came from the line of Levi? Is it possible the line of Levi is scattered throughout the earth? Is it possible God desires to bring all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem so they can say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” so Jesus may return as the promised conquering king (Mt 23:39, Lk 13:35)? What role will musicians play (sorry for the pun) when Jesus returns? We know the sound of a trumpet precedes God’s presence (Ex 19 & 20). Is it possible God desires to gather the musicians (tribe of Levi) before Jesus makes his grand entrance? Where do I fit in this vast puzzle?

There are many questions the Bible does not answer for me. It’s not a matter of finding chapter and verse to my identity in Christ. It’s by faith that Father God is pleased with me, and he’s more than willing to answer my questions upon my asking. So that’s why I keep pressing in. I want to know in the deepest way possible about who I am and what God has called me to. This I know for sure: EVERYTHING I need is found is Christ, even the answers to my pesky questions.

Thanks for keeping the conversation going. I think this is one topic all believers must often revisit and remember throughout their lifetime. Blessings!