Worship is always about HIM consuming us and never about us consuming HIM. God will never share HIS glory!
No matter how good or bad we feel on any given Sunday morning, we are created to worship HIM, to glorify HIM, to praise HIM. Today, however, modern worship is marked by intelligent lighting, high-definition video and sophisticated production. It is easy to become a casual church service attendee seeking to have GOD pour HIMSELF in me, instead of being an active worshiper ready to pour myself into HIM. But worship is not a spectator sport.
We are called to worship HIM in spirit and in truth. John 4:23 tells us the kind of worshipers GOD seeks. ” …when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” I find it interesting how the woman was looking for the Messiah to come in the future, but Jesus tells her that HE is here now, and the time is now.
Let that sink in…HE is here now, and “now is the time” for us to worship HIM!
King David tells us in many of the Psalms to “clap your hands” “praise HIM with a loud noise” “sing a new song” “praise HIM with the stringed instruments” and on and on it goes. David even danced in the streets of the city when the Ark of the Covenant was brought in. Are we willing to “clap our hands” “praise HIM with a loud noise” “sing a new song” “praise HIM with the stringed instruments” or dare I even say it “dance?”
I challenge us to take a good hard look at ourselves here! In an age where we don’t want to “offend,” we error on the side of being quiet instead of being radical in our praise. Yes, this is a challenge to all of us to come prepared to worship and not just watch others do it for us. We need to come prepared to worship HIM no matter how we feel that day. We need to come with our minds made up that no matter what circumstances we are facing, we will worship HIM with everything we have, expecting nothing in return.
I know that’s hard for some of us, but it must be our mindset! Don’t let the “worship leader” worship for you… you worship God yourself!
Now you may ask to whom I am offering this challenge today? This challenge is as much for the Pastor, Worship Leader, Musician, Video Technician, Sound Technician, Children’s Minister, Usher and all other team members as it is for that person sitting in the 2nd row from the back.
Each of us must come prepared to worship! Each of us must come sold-out, focused and ready because “now is the time!”
