TOGETHER: God’s blessings flow through worship_110303

Posted: 10/31/03

TOGETHER: God's blessings flow through worship

To serve God faithfully in ministry to people over a lifetime, you must have an active worship life. You cannot give what you do not have. In worship, our hearts are renewed, and our faith is kept alive and active.

My son, Mark, recently told me what it means to him to worship with fellow believers: “To see them standing around me singing and worshipping God, and knowing some of the achievements and some of the heartaches they feel, brings an enormous sense of awe and gratitude to God to me.”

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

True worship always connects us to people as well as to God. One of the classic passages on worship is Deuteronomy 10:12ff. “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. … He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him.”

Jesus told his disciples there were two great commandments: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:37-39).

There is a growing recognition in Baptist life that we must consciously focus on God in worship. Surrounded by so many we love, aware of the needs of so many outside, we need to find a place in our souls where we, for awhile, think only of God.

Tim Studstill, director of the Center for Music and Worship for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, wrote recently: “It is worship that separates the church from every other worthwhile organization. While there are organizations that provide valuable community service or encouragement and fellowship for its members, the church has been called to a higher purpose–worship.”

When you prepare to worship, come into God's presence with thanksgiving. But if your heart is cold and thanksgiving seems so far away, come into his presence anyway. Be willing to let God examine your life and express sorrow for sin and your desire for him to cleanse and renew your life (Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 51:1-17). Worship leads us away from haughtiness to humility.

Worship brings joy and pleasure to the heart of God (Psalm 147:1-11). We are called to worship God regularly and continually (Hebrews 10:19-25; 13:15-16). Worship is about God, about knowing Jesus, more than any preference or commitment we may have to a particular style of worship, music form or familiar traditions (Philippians 3:7-10). Remember, too, that rich corporate worship flows best from a heart that faithfully worships in a personal quiet time (Matthew 6:6).

One of the 11 characteristics of a healthy church is God-centered worship. Our Center for Music and Worship is available to help your church. Explore its resources by going to www.churchmusicintexas.com or calling (888) 447-5163.

My prayer for our churches is that they will grow in their experience of God in worship. The rich blessings of God flow fully when his people praise and celebrate his goodness.

We are loved.