Another year that key days of the church year are out of the ordinary. But regardless, we carried on and Father, You were in our midst. Though we may have only been connected virtually, the most important connection between us was that connection with You. May we cherish the blessing that we have!
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A hot topic in Christian circles in recent years has been worship and worship styles. For years, a portion of worship, beyond prayer and teaching, revolved around the worship service’s music. And for the most part that music was made up of hymns. As contemporary Christian music gained popularity in the 70s and 80s a new type of music began to impact the worship service and it was contemporary in nature.
Each church has its own take of what style they emphasize. Some churches have a traditional (hymn-based) service which might include piano and/or organ and possibly a choir. Other churches focus on contemporary services in which there is a worship leader that takes advantage, on many occasions, of a worship band – keyboard, drums, guitars (both acoustic and electric) – and possibly a worship team, to help them lead the congregation in worship. Churches usually pick one style or the other, while others will have one service of each style.
Regardless of your preference, both serve their purpose well and lead people in bringing praise to God. And honestly, praise and worship are what we individually make it. It can be full of sound and variety or it can be as simple as singing and praising God in the quiet of our hearts.
At the beginning of the year after reading the Our Daily Bread devotional, I looked at the notes they had on that day’s Scripture passage, which happened to be Psalm 100. It expounded upon the topic of worship.
It’s too thought provoking to not include in its entirety.
While worship of God may include joyful praise and thanksgiving, as Psalm 100 describes, the biblical concept of worship is much broader. The Hebrew word translated “worship” in Psalm 100:2 is more often translated “serve” or “work.” For example, Adam was to “work” (same Hebrew word) the ground in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Later this word became associated with the “service” of God in the tabernacle and temple (see Numbers 3:7). Because tabernacle and temple service involved praise of God, offering sacrifices, and other religious practices, the word came to mean “worship” as we understand it today. But the concept really has to do with serving God more than singing praises and offering thanksgiving. These expressions of worship are just some ways we can serve God. As Paul says, believers are to offer their whole bodies and minds to God as an act of spiritual worship (Romans 12:1–2).
Lord Jesus, every morning when we wake may our hearts and minds be about worshipping You…for it is surely Your due. Yes, You deserve praise and thanksgiving but may we also serve You and diligently work to see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! Amen.
Apr 4th, 2021, Sun, 8:14 pm
