I have always appreciated art, whether it was a drawing, a painting, an arrangement of music, a design, or even the beautiful creation of our Lord. I don’t claim to be an expert in the area of art; however, it does capture my interest and I am thankful for the privilege I have to serve the Lord in ministry through creative avenues such as music and visual development.

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As I have been studying both of these two different avenues, I have found a biblical principle that many timeless artists have tapped into. Is it not humorous how the world is always catching up to the principles of God as if they discovered something great?
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I have found that musical composers who created music that is timeless even to this day followed specific rules of the construction of music—rules that I will not bore you with, but basic mathematical and musical rules. One great composer even said, “The more I follow the rules, the greater my music becomes.”
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In visual design there are also rules—rules of proportions, focus, colors, font usage, etc. “Experts” have found that when they use proportion rules aligned with nature, what God created, they have found that the human eye is more attracted to these visuals. Once again, great job “experts” for discovering what God already knew!

Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

In order for anything or anyone to be truly successful or lasting, I believe God has rules laid out to be followed. We call them rules, but we could and should also view them as guides, “Guides to Success.” If I want to be a great musician, I must be guided by the rules of music. If I want to be a great designer, I must be guided by rules. If I want to be a great Christian, husband, father, or servant of the Lord, I must be guided by rules.

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It may sound restrictive, but if you fully submit to be guided by rules, you would have to agree that there is clarity, confidence, and security down this path. Pastor Goddard often mentions how he enjoys driving the speed limit, stopping at stop signs, wearing his seat belt, and following the rules of road. He has security and confidence that he is not going to be punished or cited and that he will reach his destination safely because he is guided by the rules.
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When I lead a group for a music practice, I find confidence and clarity by following the rules of the music. I don’t have to worry about what pitch to sing or how long to sing it, because it is all laid out for me to follow. As long as I follow and submit to the rules of the song, I am confident I can lead the group to success.
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How about us today? How do we view rules? Do we see them as restrictive? Probably because they are restricting our flesh. Or do we find confidence and clarity by submitting and allowing our lives to be guided by the laws and principles God has laid out for us in His Word?