Diane Virginia: The Guitarist
Give unto the LORD the glory due his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
1 Chronicles 16:29 KJV
Every time the guitarist played at the University Student Center, I felt as if my worries were a toothpick tower as I listened. And so, time and again, when I knew he would be performing, I came. This spurred me to want to know more about this “Jesus” he sang to.
What made the guitarist a stand-out?It was not his skill, which was cutting edge–it was his intense focus. Everything about him demonstrated that he believed. With his body bent forward, the guitarist would sway as he sang, “Give to the LORD the glory due His Name…Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” This song, adapted from 1 Chronicles 16:29, was his favorite.
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” he would sing, and then he would break into dialogue, saying, “Allow Jesus to usher peace into your soul tonight.”
The guitarist’s eyes were usually closed, but he seemed to have an uncanny knowledge of when there was a new listener. He would look up, and into the person’s eyes, and he would smile. Sometimes, he would also look up as if he was expressing thanks to God.
One evening, after the guitarist finished playing, I asked him to share his beliefs about Jesus.
“So, you want to know who Jesus is?”
I nodded.
“Jesus is the first person I think about when I awake, and He is the last person I talk to before I sleep” he said. “He gives me purpose to my days. I’ll tell you what–since you are a student, how about you read the Gospel of John, and then come back and we will talk about what you read? This is the Bible’s way of introducing us to Jesus.”
The guitarist was the second person to suggest that I read the Gospel of John in less than a week. It was sound advice. While I was reading, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
1 Chronicles 16:29 instructs is to give Jesus the glory due His name; John 3:16 tells us He came to love us to life; Calvary demonstrates how this plan was carried out. Because of this, we are Christ’s ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV reads, “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
When we love Jesus in a tangible way like the guitarist, this opens the door of salvation to those in our sphere of influence. Souls will come into the kingdom as we give Him the glory that is due His name, and in this way we demonstrate our love for Jesus.
Lord Jesus, help me to share who You are by giving You the glory due Your name. Amen
Copyright 2019: The Guitarist: Author Diane Virginia Cunio: Pen Name Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved: https://vinewords.net/diane-virginia-the-guitarist/
Diane, I love, love, love this devotion! Absolutely one of my favorites of yours. Thank you so much for posting it.
Thank you, sister. The guitarist influenced me for Christ and I still to this day remember his anointed music and his worshipful spirit. Funny thing though, I forget the guy’s name.
Great story, Diane. Worship music leads us into His presence. I also read the gospel of John after I rededicated my life to Christ. It’s an excellent place to begin on the journey of salvation. Blessings! xoxo
Yes it is.
Such a testimony, Diane. I love how God knows what each person needs to hear in his heart to be drawn to HIM. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you, sweet sister. Worship music makes a beautiful memory. This is one of the most unique witnessing methods I’ve seen demonstrated. It worked on me! I can still hear this student’s music in my heart.
What a beautiful story! Yes we should be “making melody” in our hearts unto the Lord and sharing it with others.
Thanks, Glenda. I agree. The guitarist was a great example of that.