Worship is…Freely Given!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 11: Worship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden?
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Ever had this question…been asked that question?
I was asked again recently in my confirmation class.
It is hard to understand if eating from this tree brought sin, evil, and death into the world…why would God even create the chance for that to happen?
Let’s take a step back.
If I make a robot and program it to always pick up my shoes and put them back in their rack at 10pm every day, would I say that robot is worshipping? No. It is just doing what it was programmed to do. Would I say that robot is loving me and appreciating me for who I am and what I have done for the robot? No. It’s just doing what it was programmed to do.
When someone else, who doesn’t have to, picks up my shoes and puts them away, that is a show of love (or just a desire to have the house picked up…or both!)
God did not create robots. He created people with whom he desired to have a relationship. A forced relationship…a robotic relationship…a programmed relationship has no room for love and worship. Only when one is free to chose NOT to love, is love genuine. Only when one is able to choose NOT to worship, is worship genuine.
Love is a response to the One who loved us first. Worship is the same. Worship is our response to who God is and what he has done for us. It looks for the way to honor him.
I guess you could say that Adam and Eve could worship by taking care of the Garden of Eden as God commanded – but they were also free to NOT take care of the garden. I guess you could say that Adam and Eve could worship by treating each other as the loving partner God had made them to be…but they were also free to NOT act in love toward each other. God also gave them the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as a means to express their love for God and his Word by listening to his direction and NOT eating from the tree. By its very name, it presented the reality that there was another potential in the world…evil. This tree was a reminder.
Worship is always freely given. God has always desired that the relationship we enjoy with him and the expression of worship that flows from that relationship is one that is freely given. Sure God has given over the centuries ways for us to express that worship and honor who he is and what he has done for us, but he also has allowed worship to flow freely in however we are led to respond to his love and grace.
In the absence of worship of God, sin and worship of self fills the void. Satan used the Tree of Knowledge to cause Adam and Eve to question the wisdom and goodness of God. As a result, they responded in sin to what they were deceived to think they were lacking and then lost sight for a moment who God is and what he had done for them. Worship stopped. Sin started.
Worship is what we were created to do because we were created to know God and be the recipients of all his goodness. Yet that worship was to be freely given in response to all God gave.
Even in spite of the sin of Adam and Eve and all since…including you and me, God’s desire still is that we know him for who he is as our loving Creator and Savior, and honor him for what he has done for us – restoring what our sin has broken.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Apply: What leads you to feel like worship is “demanded” versus “freely given.”
Prayer: Lord thank you for revealing to us who you are. Thank you for all you have done for us. Lead our worship to be always done, not out of compulsion, but out of a heart truly impacted by you and your love. AMEN.
Worship is…Contagious!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 11: Worship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Have you ever started laughing because someone near you was laughing? Researchers have studied the phenomenon and proven that the way the brain reacts to the sound of laughter prepares and triggers the muscles to respond in the same way.
Is worship contagious? Is YOUR worship contagious?
I consulted the almost all-knowing Google to determine the answer to this question and found nothing of substance to prove that worship is inherently contagious.
But let me share a few anecdotal thoughts.
When around people who are worshipping (in prayer, singing, reflection on the Word, etc.) and responding to the greatness of God and the personal impact that has had on them, one can’t help but feel inspired by the heart-felt energy that comes from one who has been touched by the Gospel.
When someone cries, you feel like crying with them. When someone prays from the heart, you feel like praying with them. When you are having a crummy day and someone is praising God for the good and the bad of the day, you feel like your day just got better.
The reality is that when you are around the LORD and his people as they worship, it makes you want to do the same. When they are not, the enthusiasm to worship wanes.
Haven’t we all experienced a corporate worship setting where the singing is weak, the responses half-hearted and the sermon mundane? Do you feel like going back? Probably not (and I pray you haven’t experienced that at our church!)
But when you step into a setting where there is passion behind the singing (even if it’s a “joyful noise), where there is love in the interactions, and depth to the preaching, one is more likely to desire to return.
Because worship is contagious. It affects the people around you.
One example from the Bible is the account in Acts 16:
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Why is worship contagious? Because the Spirit of God that is at work in you to produce the worship response is the same Spirit that works in the hearts of those around to create a similar response. In this case, the worship and witness of Paul and Silas affected the prisoners, but especially the jailor and his family. By the end of the evening, he too was “filled with joy” and probably singing a song or two with Paul and Silas!
But the contagion of worship didn’t stop with the jailor. God moved the jailor to respond to the worship of Paul and Silas, and God moved the family of the jailor to respond to the witness of the jailor. Who knows who was affected beyond that.
All because Paul and Silas were led to worship in prison. Their voices lifted up words in song and prayer and their hands lifted up actions to love and serve.
When you respond to who God is and what he has done for you, God can use it to lead others to do the same!
Apply: It is a fine line between worshipping to be “seen by people” versus the reality that others will see your worship. What opportunities do you have to worship through which God might work his Spirit in those that witness your worship?
Prayer:
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Worship…Consistent or Convenient?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 11: Worship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
“When I have time…”
How many things in life…even important things get that response?
Life presents many opportunities for us with which to fill our minutes and our days. Work…hobbies…family…vacations. And more.
Worship can be done in all those things, but we have to be honest that sometimes our worship – personal and with other – gets put on hold while we get other things done in life.
Why is that?
I wonder if it’s because sometimes in those settings we fear the ridicule or the recourse that might come our way if our family, coworkers, or friends catch us “worshipping” during our everyday activities?
A sermon I listened to yesterday morning encouraged the listener to “pre-make decisions.” To avoid the question when it comes up, you simply decide and then follow through.
What would happen if you decided today to worship God consistently…regardless of what others’ reaction might be? Regardless of what else in life comes up? Regardless the consequence if someone found out you were a believer? Regardless your schedule? What would happen if worship was the big rock you always put in your day personally and always put in your week corporately?
It might get some resistance. It might be hard. But I guarantee it will be blessed.
The prophet Daniel is one such example.
He was taken captive to a foreign land. He was nearly forced to eat unclean foods. He had opposition attack him and get him to stop worshipping the Lord and worship the supreme leader. Yet because he decided that honoring the LORD was THE most important thing in life, he didn’t cave.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” (Daniel 6:10-12)
What would you have done?
Would you continue honoring God, even at the threat of your life?
It’s easy to worship when there is no threat.
It is challenging…at least I think it would be…to be consistent in worship when your life is on the line.
But I pray for a heart of Daniel to love who God is and what he has done so much that the decision is made to always worship, consistently, even when it’s not convenient.
How did God honor that?
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
God just gave Daniel another reason to worship! He shut the mouths of the lion and put to death those that not just opposed Daniel but opposed him and his name.
When we worship, God opens our hearts and lives to more reasons to worship!
Apply: Make a Spirit-enabled decision today to always worship the Lord, consistently, even when it is not convenient.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all you are and all you do. Give me always the consistency in my worship so there is never a question “if I should” because it’s just the rhythm of “what I do.” Amen.
Worship…More than a song…
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 11: Worship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Happy Monday Devotion readers!
Let me start with an apology for not alerting you to what ended up be a two week break of writing devotions! They just didn’t happen before our family left for vacation – so I pray the Christmas season and transition into 2022 have been blessed for you and your family…but now let’s get back to a little Word of God and reflection each day!
Yesterday we began again our “Believe” series. So again I invite you as a devotion reader to spend time with each week’s chapter…this week Chapter 11 on Worship.
I don’t know about you, but we have spent A LOT of time as pastors in our church body talking about worship. Even other Christian denominations have used the term “Worship Wars” to describe basically what music style and format should be used on Sunday morning when we gather together.
Is worship really just about a music style and setting on Sunday morning?
We probably all know the answer is “No,” but sometimes that’s what it becomes. It is easy in the visible church to look for the “prescription” for worship. It can easily become a set of “rules” that if not followed we begin to question whether we really have worship (Yes, I’ve been in conversations that debated this issue.).
What I have found in the Bible is ALL KINDS of ways and ALL KINDS of settings people worshipped. Here’s just a couple:
- Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, bowed down and worshipped (Genesis 24:26)
- 2 Samuel 6:5 &14 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals…. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
- Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
The list could go on. People worshipped in silence or praise. People worshipped at the beginning of life or the end of life. People worshipped in the temple, on the hillside, or in a prison cell.
Here’s what we notice about worship. Worship is always a RESPONSE of people to WHO God is and WHAT God has done for them.
Eliezer worshipped when God gave him success to finding Isaac a wife, Rebekah. David rejoiced when the Ark of God was brought to Jerusalem for the first time. Paul and Silas were praying and singing, responding to the work of God…even though they were thrown into prison for it.
When we understand that worship is my response to WHO God is or WHAT he has done for me, it can take various forms, multiple settings, and occupy every minute of every day. Our life is a response to the reality of God’s goodness and mercy being shown to me!
Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Worship is more than a song, more than a morning, more than a ritual, more than a single prayer, it is a heart touched by the love and mercy of God responding to the love and mercy of God.
Enjoy your day of worship!
Apply: What happens today when you view everything you are doing as an act of worship – responding to WHO God is and WHAT he has done for you? Could driving to work be an act of worship? Washing the dishes? Presenting at a meeting? Tucking your kids into bed? Yep!
Prayer – Lyrics to “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart
I’ll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
AMEN.
The birth of Jesus: Luke Part 2
The detail of Luke’s account continues…
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke’s purpose for his whole Gospel is a detailed account to bring to his reader accurate information and detail so they may “know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Something that brings certainty is when someone says something and then what happens matches what was said. At the end of these verses is the phrase, “which were just as they had been told.” I’ve wondered at times if part of Luke’s investigation put him in touch with one of the shepherds that was there that night of Jesus’ birth. With the detail Luke provides, it leads me to wonder.
The shepherds went to find Jesus based on the words of the angel. If they couldn’t find Jesus, I would guess this account would never have made it in the pages of the Bible. But they did! Just as they had been told…not just in general, but in all the detail.
They were given the sign, “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
They went to “…see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They found “the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
They spread the word “concerning what had been TOLD them about this child.”
They returned “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been TOLD.”
When God speaks, we can trust his Word. Christmas and Luke’s account are just one small example of the power, precision, and promise of God’s Word and the blessing, joy, and certainty it brings to our life of faith as we hear it, believe it, and live it!
Apply: What promises has God given to you that when you have acted on them you have experienced the very blessing God promised?
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the certainty of your Word. Let this Christmas account of Luke help us to be like the shepherds to hear your word, believe your word, and live your word. AMEN.