Father, as our schedule becomes more and more full, I would ask for Your continued guidance and wisdom in all we do. We are limited, but You are almighty! Guide us, oh, thou great Jehovah! Amen!
1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (<<click here to read the passage)
When we think of worship, our minds tell us that it is supposed to be about God. The thing is, though, more often than not, for many, it’s about us. It’s about how worship makes us feel. How often do we change churches because the music isn’t to our taste or the preacher isn’t tickling our ears?
The Apostle Paul, in his instruction to young Timothy, said,
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 AMP
Ouch…
Worship is not about pleasing ourselves but God. We are to praise Him and His many attributes out of our immense gratitude for His mercy and grace that is freely extended to us. The sacrifices made on His part provide our only hope of salvation.
But I want to stress that part of our worship involves us. We worship God, but what we do in worship must be beneficial to the worshippers, as well. Every worshipper ought to consider himself or herself a contributor. These principles touch every aspect – singing, preaching, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Contributions to the service (by singing, speaking, reading, praying, playing instruments, giving) must have love as their chief motivation.
I truly believe that loving others is another way to praise our Maker! When we love others, we are emulating Him! The Apostle John in 1 John 4:16, tells us,
We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. AMP (emphasis mine)
So, my challenge to you, and myself for that matter, is as we prepare to lead or participate in worship, we must also seek to strengthen the faith of other believers! *
Lord Jesus, as we expose ourselves to worship, may our love for You and others be apparent. May we do our best to edify the Church and its Head! Amen.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Jan 21st, 2024, Sun, 6:16 pm
