What is your favorite worship song of all time? I guarantee you have an opinion about worship styles and preferences. We all have our particular influences and passions and these draw us towards different aspects of worship, whether we are talking about our own particular expressions or music genres.
The Bible gives us a very robust picture of what worship is and what it’s to look like. Take, for example, the contrast between two Psalms. In Chapter 150:4-6, the Psalmist proclaims, “Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” On the other hand, Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Each form or style have their critically important aspects.
Biblical worship teaches us that honor includes both quiet reverence and joy-filled enthusiasm. God is holy, almighty, and all-powerful. God is to be feared. He is also our peace, love, and joy, so with hope, our lives are to overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving for what He has given us. In fact, we are made this way with different personalities, character traits, and gifts. We observe this in our individualities and in the world’s various cultures. So why do we worship the way we do?
First, it’s important to begin with an understanding that we will all worship. No matter who we are, what we prefer, where we’re born, or what influences we have, we turn our affections toward something. This is what it means to worship. The things that we are devoted to and the things that draw out our desires show us where our affections lie. This is why we must always be cognizant of what requires and leads our time, thoughts, and cares. We can so easily be influenced by mere possessions or muses, but these should never take precedence over our Creator God. Just as Romans 1:5 states, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!”
Secondly, we must remember that Jesus Christ is the only One who is Worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. True biblical worship begins with bestowing all glory to the only one who has conquered sin, death, and the grave. Jesus demonstrated His worthiness through His victory! So everything that we are committed to in worship must begin with setting our affections towards Jesus. Consider what it says in Colossians 1:18: “He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
Finally, we must also consider the great blessings we receive in our worship. Worship is not for us, but for the Lord; however, God offers to us, in our worship, transformation, and renewal. Yes, God is shaping us into His image. Through the righteousness of Jesus within us, God is transforming our hearts as we live as broken vessels for His honor and glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18, “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Consider what Christ has done for you, as His shed blood has lifted the veil from our faces, allowing us to be in the presence of God. Further, as we consider the work He is doing in our hearts, do we consider His glory that is shining through us, the light and life that He brings to our lives and to those around us? What a great blessing we have in worship.
As we continue to focus on renewing our heart, mind, and soul in our sermon series Renew, I hope that we will continue to learn and grow as we apply to our lives these truths in our commitment to personal and corporate worship here at Emmaus. Maybe for you, it has been a struggle to engage, attend, or focus in our church worship services. I want to encourage you to prepare your heart for worship in prayer and focus on His Word. I also want to challenge you to consider the importance and blessing God has given us in worship here at church. If you find yourself in a season like this, I want to encourage you to pray and ask God to give you a focus, hunger, and eagerness as you take part in our worship services.
Christmas season is a great time to for worship. As we continue our Renewal series, into the Advent season we are going to study the focuses of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. As we consider the hope we have in Christ, the love Jesus offers each one of us, and the joy and peace only he can give, we will continue to ask the question, why is renewal so important in our lives?
Merry Christmas!
— Pr. Nick Dyrud