Hebrews 10:24-25
In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.
Let
us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage
and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back
again is drawing near.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
In
the wake of the devastating tornado that ravaged several communities in
Central Arkansas on Sunday, we are hearing countless news reports of
“Good Samaritans” who have rushed to the aid of those in need…from law
enforcement officers and rescue workers to medical personnel to church
groups who are organizing shelters, meals and supplies…to area
businesses that are feeding and supporting victims and workers alike.
It’s a beautiful thing, and God’s handiwork is evident even in the midst
of the horrific destruction and piles of rubble that are all that is
left of neighborhoods, schools, church buildings and businesses.
I
cannot count the reports I have heard in the last 24 hours in which
victims claim that “the grace of God saved us.” Does this mean that
those who were killed and injured were not covered by this same grace?
Will people in these decimated communities turn their backs on God and
blame Him for the destruction? I don’t think so. As one woman
explained today…”God has a plan.” If ever many of us had a reason to
walk away from God, this might be it. And let’s be honest…when troubles
and tragedy befall us, we often ask God, “Why?” We wonder “Why me?
Why my family? Why this? What have I done to make God so angry?” The
people of Vilonia, Arkansas, are asking, “Why two times in three years?”
as they crawl out of the rubble of homes that they rebuilt after the
2011 tornado…only to lose them again on Sunday.
I don’t have good
answers for why these things have happened. I don’t know why God
allowed some to be injured or wiped out…or killed – and others were
allowed to live. I do know it was not to punish them. And I do agree
with the survivor who said that “God has a plan.” He will not waste
these events. God will continually work in and through these
days/weeks/years to bring about amazing results that further His
Kingdom.
Come Sunday, I suspect that any church building in the
area surrounding the communities affected by these tornadoes will be
filled to brimming with worshippers. Those who lost their church
facilities in the storm will find a place and a time to stop the cleanup
efforts and come together to praise God for His love and care…and to
seek His guidance as they move forward, rebuild and recover. And if
people in this situation can gather to encourage each other and glorify
God…surely those of us who are safe, warm, dry, fed, clothed, housed and
comfortable can take a few hours out of our week to pray, sing, study,
fellowship and feed on the word of God.
Here is yet another
example of how God is working through a tragedy to demonstrate His love
and care. He is using these tornado victims to encourage and uplift
even those of us who are observing from afar. God is inspiring people
across the nation to roll up their sleeves, open their wallets, and come
together in His name and for His glory…to show the world at large that
nothing can separate us from His love – that we will serve Him with
whatever we have and however we can.
A tornado may take our
home, our business…even our loved ones. But God is still with us. And
in the days ahead, we will gather to help those in need…and to worship
Him. Will you be among them? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label corporate worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corporate worship. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 16, 2014
Hebrews 10:25
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were eating dinner with family members this week, and cousins who attend another church began to tell us about their pastor and a sermon he preached shortly before Christmas Day. They said that this was the most moving worship service they had ever experienced. Let’s be honest…there are worship services, and there are worship services. And maybe you’ve never experienced the latter. Maybe you cannot recall a service or sermon that truly moved you. And that’s okay. If you look closely at this scripture passage, you will see that the goal of corporate worship is not necessarily to be inspired or physically “moved”.
In The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren tells that we should not attend worship services expecting God to “move” us…that this really is not the reason for us to gather together. He says…“If you have ever said, ‘I didn't get anything out of worship today,’ you worshiped for the wrong reason. Worship isn't for you. It's for God.” Pastor Warren also reminds us that…“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.”
Let me break this down a little further…we may feel like we would rather do a zillion things with our Sunday (or whatever day you attend worship)…and getting up and out the door to attend a church service is not one of them. We may not like the music…the pastor’s sermons may be boring and uninspiring...we may feel like there is too much emphasis placed on adding new members, the church’s public image - or money. We may sit and tap our toe, check our watch, fidget and wish we were someplace else. We may even be accused of coming to church “to see and be seen”!
In this scripture verse, we see two things: 1) meeting for corporate worship is a habit one can develop; and 2) we must keep attending and encouraging one another. Pastor Warren reminds us that we can find “worship” in many of the circumstances – and even distractions – of our routine attendance…if we look hard enough! The concept of attending worship “to see and be seen” can be both positive and negative. If we are merely showing up and going through the motions so that people will think we are truly “good” Christians…or they will patronize our business…or so that our friends will include us in their social circles…we are meeting for the wrong reasons.
However, if we use our attendance as an opportunity to greet friends and fellow believers with the love and peace of God…to learn of the needs and concerns of others that we might be able to address in some manner…to add our voice to the “choir” of attendees who praise God with song and recitation…to share in Holy Communion with others…we have demonstrated the compassion of Christ. And in doing so, we have worshipped. This may not give you the warm fuzzy feeling you seek…or even a jolt of energy or a spine-tingle from the Holy Spirit…but it does demonstrate obedience and service to God…and it serves as an act of encouragement to the body of Christ.
So yes, we can worship on a riverbank, in the deer woods, or while driving to the nearest shopping center. Most certainly we can worship in the privacy of our own home. But in order to truly encourage others and share compassion in the name of Jesus, we often have to get up and out of our comfort zone and physically come together as a group. You may not hear the best sermon of your life or even feel glad that you attended afterward…but that is really not the point. Corporate worship is a Biblically sanctioned act of obedience…and Christian service and compassion. Don’t go for “the show”. Go to show your love for Christ to others…and to allow others an opportunity to share His love with you.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were eating dinner with family members this week, and cousins who attend another church began to tell us about their pastor and a sermon he preached shortly before Christmas Day. They said that this was the most moving worship service they had ever experienced. Let’s be honest…there are worship services, and there are worship services. And maybe you’ve never experienced the latter. Maybe you cannot recall a service or sermon that truly moved you. And that’s okay. If you look closely at this scripture passage, you will see that the goal of corporate worship is not necessarily to be inspired or physically “moved”.
In The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren tells that we should not attend worship services expecting God to “move” us…that this really is not the reason for us to gather together. He says…“If you have ever said, ‘I didn't get anything out of worship today,’ you worshiped for the wrong reason. Worship isn't for you. It's for God.” Pastor Warren also reminds us that…“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.”
Let me break this down a little further…we may feel like we would rather do a zillion things with our Sunday (or whatever day you attend worship)…and getting up and out the door to attend a church service is not one of them. We may not like the music…the pastor’s sermons may be boring and uninspiring...we may feel like there is too much emphasis placed on adding new members, the church’s public image - or money. We may sit and tap our toe, check our watch, fidget and wish we were someplace else. We may even be accused of coming to church “to see and be seen”!
In this scripture verse, we see two things: 1) meeting for corporate worship is a habit one can develop; and 2) we must keep attending and encouraging one another. Pastor Warren reminds us that we can find “worship” in many of the circumstances – and even distractions – of our routine attendance…if we look hard enough! The concept of attending worship “to see and be seen” can be both positive and negative. If we are merely showing up and going through the motions so that people will think we are truly “good” Christians…or they will patronize our business…or so that our friends will include us in their social circles…we are meeting for the wrong reasons.
However, if we use our attendance as an opportunity to greet friends and fellow believers with the love and peace of God…to learn of the needs and concerns of others that we might be able to address in some manner…to add our voice to the “choir” of attendees who praise God with song and recitation…to share in Holy Communion with others…we have demonstrated the compassion of Christ. And in doing so, we have worshipped. This may not give you the warm fuzzy feeling you seek…or even a jolt of energy or a spine-tingle from the Holy Spirit…but it does demonstrate obedience and service to God…and it serves as an act of encouragement to the body of Christ.
So yes, we can worship on a riverbank, in the deer woods, or while driving to the nearest shopping center. Most certainly we can worship in the privacy of our own home. But in order to truly encourage others and share compassion in the name of Jesus, we often have to get up and out of our comfort zone and physically come together as a group. You may not hear the best sermon of your life or even feel glad that you attended afterward…but that is really not the point. Corporate worship is a Biblically sanctioned act of obedience…and Christian service and compassion. Don’t go for “the show”. Go to show your love for Christ to others…and to allow others an opportunity to share His love with you.
©2014 Debbie Robus
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