The Weekly Epistle 3/25/20

Well, Sunday’s worship was quite interesting.  That was a first for me.  It was awkward for me at first, not to mention seeing myself on the big screen.  Honestly, it didn’t take me that long at all to settle in. I think the reading of Psalm 33 had something to do with that.  Interestingly, Psalm 33 was the Psalm chosen for our Fellowship of Prayer Night that was postponed, so the Lord definitely had my attention.  
 
Sunday’s virtual worship caused me to think about my understanding of worship.  What is worship?  When someone says, “I love the worship at our church,” likely they mean, “I loved the songs we sing or the church’s style of worship.”  When worship wars were a thing (and it stills shows its head at times) the debate was over style and preferences.  
 
In a previous church where I served, one Sunday I chose to lead our service without any music.  A couple of people got wind of this prior to that Sunday and questioned if it could even be done. One of them thought it meant I was going to preach for the entire hour.  Someone else wondered if it was even worth getting out of bed on that Sunday.  I think they showed up out of curiosity.  But see, we have limited worship to singing.  
 
You might have heard me say on a Sunday morning when it came time to preach, “We now continue in our worship as we look at God’s Word.”  Preaching is worship!  Giving of our monies is worship.  Prayer is worship.  Reading of Scripture is worship.  Time of reflection is worship.  Sharing around the Lord’s table is worship.  And yes!  Singing is worship!
 
We worshipped Sunday from our living rooms, across the Lakes Region and beyond.  
 
Listen to these words from the writer of Hebrews in chapter 13, verse 15-16.  “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” 
 
Those two verses begin and end with the word “sacrifice.” Of course, sacrifice reaches back to the Old Testament sacrifices which were at the center of their worship.  Those sacrifices were in response to the worth of God and that He had made Himself known to them.  
In the same way, church, we respond to God.  He has made Himself known to us through the person of Jesus Christ who gave His life as a sacrifice for our redemption.  We respond to Him with our lips that confess His name- through singing, praying, reading His word, aligning our lives with His will, and through doing good and sharing with others. Again, our thoughts of worship are expanded.  Don’t neglect to do good. Share what you have. Such sacrifices are pleasing to God. That’s worship! 
 
In such a time as this, church, worship Him- enjoy Him, be satisfied in Him above all earthly things, treasure God, reflect on His worth, value time alone in His presence.  And may that content, restful, joyful satisfaction in Him overflow in acts of love toward others.  
 
Blessings to you, church.