Immanuel

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Enjoy this Christmas day devotional about our Emmanuel...God with us...by Charles Spurgeon from his book Morning and Evening.

Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire.

Let us notice at the very first glance his miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not  the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Savior, although truly man, was as to his human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that he may be formed in us, the hope of glory.

Fail not to note his humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accomodation afforded to the new-born King!

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.

He Became Poor

"For your sakes he became poor." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Here is another thoughtful devotional by Charles Spurgeon. It speaks of Jesus leaving his throne, coming down from on high, and becoming poor to reach us.

The Lord Jesus Christ was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted: but "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." As the rich saint cannot be true in his communion with his poor brethren unless of his substance he ministers to their necessities, so (the same rule holding with the head as between the members), it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship with us unless he had imparted to us of his own abounding wealth, and had become poor to make us rich. Had he remained upon his throne of glory, and had we continued in ruins of the fall without receiving his salvation, communion would have been impossible on both sides.

Our position by the fall, apart from the covenant of grace, made it as impossible for fallen man to communicate with God as it is for Belial to be in concord with Christ. In order, therefore, that communion might be compassed, it was necessary that the rich kinsman should bestow his estate upon his poor relatives, that the righteous Savior should give to his sinning brethren of his own perfection, and that we,   the poor and the guilty, should receive of his fullness grace for grace; that thus in giving and receiving, the One might descend from the heights, and the other ascend from the depths, and so be able to embrace each other in true and hearty fellowship.

Poverty must be enriched by him in whom are infinite treasures before it can venture to commune; and guilt must lose itself in imputed and imparted righteousness ere the soul can walk in fellowship with purity. Jesus must clothe his people in his own garments, or he cannot admit them into his palace of glory; and he must wash them in his own blood, or else they will be too defiled for the embrace of his fellowship.

O believer, herein is love! For your sake the Lord Jesus "became poor" that he might lift you up into communion with himself.

Do You Worship Like Mary or Martha?

This is an interesting worship devotional by David Good from his book entitled Captivated by the Heart of God.

In Luke 10:38 and John 12:1 we read a short story about Jesus attending a dinner party hosted by his close friends, Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. If you are familiar with this story, you will remember that Martha is busy preparing and serving dinner for their guests while Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet. In her frustration, Martha approaches Jesus to complain that Mary is making her do all the work. Jesus' response is the opposite of what she had hoped for. In fact, Jesus tells her that what Mary is doing is more important. I can just imagine the look Jesus must have been given by Martha to that comment. If I were ever crazy enough to say something like that to my wife I doubt I would live to ever make that mistake again. Jesus wasn't being indifferent or insensitive to Martha's efforts. Martha was being indifferent to what Mary was doing.

As I read this story, I began thinking about worship and what the modern Church can learn from it. Like Martha, it is so easy for us to become focused on getting Jesus to respond to us rather than us responding to Him in worship. As humans, the tendency is to make worship about us rather about Him. Martha forgot that the dinner party was about the honored guest, not the hostess. How many times have we come away from a worship service disappointed because we didn't get what we wanted out of it that morning? Mary, on the other hand, kept focus on the right place. She understood that she wasn't the point. Martha felt Jesus wasn't showing enough appreciation for what she had done for him while Mary felt that she wasn't showing enough appreciation for what he did for her so she gave him everything she had. Martha was only interested in what she could get from Jesus. Mary was interested in what she could give to him.

This Sunday, as we gather together to worship our Lord, we have a choice. We can approach worship like Martha---focused on Jesus' hands, seeking his applause for our efforts. Or we can worship like Mary---focused on Jesus' face, seeking his embrace. Worship is not about getting him to respond to us, but rather getting us to respond to him. It's not about God enjoying our presence, but about us enjoying God's presence.

I love the words to the famous hymn, "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Toplady that says, "Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling. Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die!" Worship like Mary who held nothing back, didn't care what others thought of her, and whose sole motivation was to bless her Master.

The Wise Men

They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts. Matthew 2:11 NLT

Every now and then people will quip that they can worship in their garden or on the golf course just as well as in a church. While this may be true for some, many simply use it as an excuse to skip church. The true motive behind their statement can usually be discovered in their answer to one small question: "Well, do you?" The wise men who came to Bethlehem literally went to great lengths to worship the Lord. They embarked on a long journey in order to adore the newborn King of the Jews because they understood the importance of worship. And just as the wise men's eagerness to worship the Lord troubled King Herod, their earnestness can still unsettle us and teach us about worship today.

The Wise Men as Worshipers

In addition to presenting themselves for worship, the wise men brought gifts. They worshiped the Lord by their presence and their presents: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As costly as those gifts were by themselves, they gained even greater value when given to Jesus. We, too, can give gifts to God, and watch him multiply them for his glory, much like a seed bringing forth plentiful fruit.

Learning from the Wise Men

The wise men's gifts provide us with many insights about worship:

Gold has always been a valued commodity and traditionally represents material wealth. Worship includes giving a portion of our material blessings to the church or to others in Christ's name. Giving demonstrates that we are good stewards of the wealth God has given us.

Frankincense was a fragrant substance added to sacrificial fires. As the valuable incense was consumed, the fragrance was released, filling the air with a sweet aroma. This can be compared to time given in service to God. Although this time may appear to others to be consumed and lost, it becomes a sweet aroma of worship to God.

Myrrh was added to the cloth used to prepare bodies for burial. Thus, the gift of myrrh compels us to reflect on the ultimate purpose for which Christ came to earth: to give his life as a ransom for many. Reflection upon Christ's atoning death should form a central part of our worship, and so Christians should regularly participate in the Lord's Table.

Following the Example

We tend to worship only when and where it is comfortable or easy. We allow inconvenience to dampen our enthusiasm for worship. But what a different attitude toward worship the wise men displayed! They endured a very long and difficult journey to worship the King of the Jews and to give him costly gifts. Let us learn from their example and make a special effort to regularly come before our King in worship.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day

We bow our hearts to You and pray.

We give You thanks for all You've done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see

For joy and health, friends and family,

For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days.

---Mary Fairchild

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't Forget

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being , praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 NIV)

The devotional below is from the book, Captivated by the Heart of God by David Good. It is a reminder for us to look through the lens of God's goodness.

As I was reading Psalm 103 the other day I was struck by the phrase in verse 2 that says, "...and forget not all his benefits." I like how the New Living Translation says, "...may I never forget the good things he does for me." Remembering God's acts of kindness to us is a critical part of worship. We don't forget. We just fail to allow the reality of what he has done shape how we understand and feel about life. I think of it as wearing prescription glasses. We can manage without them, but our vision is blurred and distorted and we miss important details. David is reminding us to put on our glasses so that we always view our lives through the lens of God's goodness.

I remember a conversation around the dinner table at our home not long ago with our teenage son. If you have a teenager in your home, I'm sure you have had the same conversation. As we were getting up from the table, my wife informed our son that he needed to rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher. He immediately complained about the unfair workload his mother and I burden him with. I think his exact words were, "Why do I have to do all the work around here?" I am thankful that my wife will not allow guns in our house because I believe she would have shot him right there in the kitchen. Before any violence could erupt, I simply asked him the following questions: Who made dinner? Who went to the grocery store and bought all the food we just ate? Who worked to earn the money to buy all the food? Of course his answer was you and mom. "So, what did you do?" I asked. "Nothing", he replied. He lowered his head and did the dishes and has never said that since. The simple fact was that he had forgotten the good things his parents do for him on a daily basis.

Sometimes we all act like that with God. We go through life with all of its demands, frustrations, trials and pressures and our vision gets distorted. We get tired and frustrated, angry and depressed. We see God as harsh, uncaring and distant. That is when we need to put on our glasses so that we can see clearly and be reminded that he is good and his mercy endures forever. If you ever find yourself forgetting what God has done for you, read Psalm 103. David lists them for us so we won't forget. Always remember that no matter how bad life gets, it will never overshadow the greatness of God's goodness towards you. You may need to take a moment and reflect on some of the great things he has done for you. Write them down. Say them out loud so you can hear them. As the sun rises and sets, recite them so that you will never forget them.

Majesty

The song "Majesty," written by well-known pastor Jack Hayford, celebrates Christ's triumphant victory over death. It calls Christians to come to the throne of God and offer unending praise, a scene reminiscent of the elders' worship of Christ in Revelation chapter 5.

This same worship of our Lord can be found as well in 1 Chronicles. Here King David leads his people in heart-felt worship of the King of kings. As David worships, he proclaims the wonderful works of God and extols his matchless character: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty" (1 Chron. 29:11).

As you read these words, reflect on the generations of faithful believers who will one day join us in a powerful chorus of praise to the Lord, proclaiming: "May you be praised forever and ever!" (1Chron. 29:10).

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Unto Jesus be all glory, power, and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority

Flow from His throne unto His own,

His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus;

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Jesus, who died, now glorified,

King of all kings.

Copyright 1981 Rocksmith Music

(this is an excerpt from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)

James

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:16)(NLT)

The worship profile below is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. This is a great study Bible for anyone who wants to learn more about biblical praise and worship.

James holds a significant place in early church tradition. This James about whom we speak was likely the half brother of Jesus. And although he had earlier rejected the claims of Christ (John 7:5), James later became an important leader in the church of Jerusalem. One of the more significant instances of his leadership can be found in Acts 15, where he spoke in defense of Gentile evangelism. While James was not one of the Twelve, in a broader sense he can be called an apostle due to his foundational role in the church. Tradition has also named James as the author of the Bible book bearing his name. This book has much to tell us about trials, morality, good works, impartiality, and prayer, and has been embraced by many for its practical wisdom.

James the Worshiper

To James, righteous living was the hallmark of faithful Christian service. Small wonder, then, that James emphasized confession and prayer as staples of Christian worship. Confession of sin is designed to remind us of our imperfections and our dependence on God's saving grace in Christ--a basic part of worship's progression toward spiritual renewal. Prayer keeps us in touch with the one whom we worship. Public prayer increases our awareness of the needs of the body to which we belong. And, as James writes, it has "great power and wonderful results" (James 5:16)(NLT).

Learning from James

Regarding our fellowship as believers, James gives us some important reminders that, if applied, can build a unified body. He reminds us to show impartiality: Don't have special seating for the rich and famous while neglecting those who are poor or those who may seem less important. Our worship should reflect the impartiality of God. Inclusion, not exclusion, must be a regulative principle in our worship.

James also reminds us that we should not be too quick to ascend God's throne of judgment. Too often fellowship or worship among Christians is hindered by those who stand in judgment over their brothers and sisters in Christ. James reminds us that we are to obey the law, not pronounce it (James 4:11-12). James also reminds us that corporate worship brings us encouragement as we suffer the trials of this world.

Following the Example

Reflect on the practical principles laid down by James. To what extent does your own fellowship heed James's wise advice? Does your worship reflect the inclusiveness for which James call? Are the important committees that plan the worship experience cliquish and exclusive? Do too many find themselves on the periphery of active church involvement?

Often judgmental attitudes can paralyze both our worship and our service. Christ calls us to show grace and forgiveness, especially toward those with whom we don't agree! How do you fare in this area? Is confession an integral part of your worship? Do your prayer sessions reflect the needs of the local congregation as well as the universal church?

Better than Sacrifice

"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." 1 Samuel 15:22

The following devotional is by Charles Spurgeon. It reminds of a great song by Keith Green called "To Obey is Better than Sacrifice." Keith had a way of really stepping on your toes through his music. Take a look at some of the "right-to-the-point" lyrics:

To obey is better than sacrifice
I don't need your money I want your life
And I hear you say that I'm coming back soon
But you act like I'll never return

Well you speak of grace and My love so sweet
How you thrive on milk but reject my meat
And I can't help weeping at how it will be
If you keep on ignoring My Word.

Keep this idea in mind as you read the devotional below:

Saul had been commanded to slay utterly all the Amalakites and their cattle. Instead of doing so, he preserved the king, and suffered his people to take the best of the oxen and of the sheep. When called to account for this, he declared that he did it with a view of offering sacrifice to God; but Samuel met him at once with the assurance that sacrifices were no excuse for an act of direct rebellion. The sentence before us is worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and to be hung up before the eyes of the present idolatrous generation, who are very fond of the fineries of will-worship, but utterly neglect the laws of God. Be it ever in your remembrance, that to keep strictly in the path of your Savior's command is better than any outward form of religion; and to hearken to his precept with an attentive ear is better than to bring the fat of rams, or any other precious thing to lay upon the altar.

If you are failing to keep the least of Christ's commands to his disciples, I pray you be disobedient no longer. All the pretensions you make of attachment to your Master, and all the devout actions which you may perform, are no recompense for disobedience. "To obey," even in the slightest and smallest thing, "is better than sacrifice," however pompous. Talk not of Gregorian chants, sumptuous robes, incense, and banners; the first thing which God requires of his child is obedience; and though you should give your body to be burned, and all your goods to feed the poor, yet if you do not hearken to the Lord's precepts, all your formalities shall profit you nothing. It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, but it is a much more blessed thing when one has been taught the lesson, to carry it out to the letter. How many adorn their temples and decorate their priests, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord! My soul, come not thou into their secret.

Here I Am

The following devotional is by David Good, from his devotional book--Captivated by the Heart of God.

Psalm 134 instructs us to lift up our hands in worship to the Lord. There is good reason to do this, and not just because the bible tells us to. There is something very powerful about the act of lifting our hands up in worship that when we understand it, we will find it hard to do anything else as we worship.

We have all heard the illustration that lifting hands is a sign of surrender. We are saying, "I give up. You've got me." That is part of it, as worship as an act of surrendering ourselves to God, not just our minds and emotions, but literally our bodies. But it goes much deeper than that and has a more profound meaning in worship. God is fascinated with our hands. Isaiah 49:16 tells us that he has "engraved" our names on the palm of his hand. Think about that for a moment. Do you remember your first girlfriend of boyfriend? Perhaps you were so infatuated with that person that you wrote their name on your hand. There was something endearing, a warm and fuzzy feeling about enjoying the privilege of writing their name on your palm so you could look at it. You might have even caught yourself just whispering that name. Now I'm not comparing God to a silly schoolgirl, but knowing that God has my name engraved on his palm, knowing that he loves me so much that he even loves to just whisper my name makes me understand just how deep, how wide, and how high his love actually is. To know that the Maker of the Universe wrote my name on the palm of his hand has huge implications for my life.

Now, let's take this a step further. Look at your palms. At birth he engraved something on your hands too. He has signed your name on your palms in the form of a finger print. Yours is unique to countless billions of people who have been born and will ever be born. You are the only one out of billions who has that imprint on your hands. We use our fingerprints to positively identify ourselves. God does too. When we lift our hands up to him in worship, we are in essence saying, "Here I am, Lord. It's me. I'm here to worship you with all that I am today." As He looks at the palms of your hands, he then looks at his hands and sees a perfect match and says, "I know you. I have your name right here on my hands too!" He then reaches down and takes our hand in his and lifts us up above all the cares, the problems and worries, all the frustration and pain of this world, and lifts us up into his realm. I remember the first time my wife and I held hands when we were dating. Suddenly I knew my life was going to be forever changed because I would never be alone after that. What a beautiful and powerful picture of worship.

A few years ago I wrote a song that captures the essence of this picture. I hope it blesses you and reminds you just how much he loves you and wants to embrace you and hold you by the hand today. As you worship him, go ahead and lift your hands to him. Here are the words:

Long before the world began,

my name was written in Your hand.

Before You hung the stars above, 

You held me in Your perfect love.

Long before the span of time,

I was always on Your mind.

Lord, I'll never understand

how You could love me as I am

And sent Your Son to die for me

so I could live eternally with You.

Here I am to worship You,

here I am to honor You.

Lord, my heart belongs to You,

now I give it back to You.

Here I am.

(words and music by David Good copyright 2007)

Lifted Hands

Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. (1 Timothy 2:8 HCSB)

In the previous post, we looked at some scriptures that encourage us to lift up our hands in worship. But the Word of God also encourages us to lift our hands in prayer as well.

Here are some scripture references to hands being lifted in prayer:

Lev. 9:22--Aaron lifted his hands to bless the people

Job 11:13

Ps. 28:2; 77:2; 119:48; 141:2

Isa. 1:15

Lam. 2:19

1 Tim. 2:8

Lk. 24:50--Jesus lifted his hands to bless his disciples

Lifted hands are a symbolic posture of prayer. Traditionally, the hands are raised to the level of the shoulders or head with the palms turned upward in a gesture of reception. The posture of lifted hands is sometimes called the orant, which comes from the Latin word orans, meaning "praying." It is one of the oldest traditional postures for Christian prayer. Drawings of it appear as early as A.D. 180 in the Callistus catacomb, and many ancient tombstones portray Christians in this posture.

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House Publishers)

With Hands Uplifted

Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the Lord! (Psalm 134:2 HCSB)


"We stand and lift up our hands for the joy of the Lord is our strength"
"We give You glory, lifting up our hands and singing Holy"
"Never gonna stop, never gonna stop, lifting up my hands to You, lifting up my heart"


The above lyrics are from familiar praise songs that we sing in our worship services. Notice how they refer to "lifting hands" in worship. Some churches practice lifting hands in their worship services all the time. Others never practice it. I have been members of both types of churches. It is easy to feel awkward or "out of place" if you are used to a more reserved, traditional service with no hand-lifting, and you then attend a more charismatic type of service where just about everyone else is lifting their hands. It can feel equally as awkward in the reverse situation, although it doesn't need to be so.

But what does the Bible say about lifting hands in worship to our Lord? Let's take a look at a few scripture references to hands being lifted in worship:

Ps. 63:4
So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands. (HCSB)

Ps. 119:48
I will lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and will meditate on Your statutes. (HCSB)

Ps. 134:2
Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the Lord! (HCSB)

Lam. 3:41
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven: (HCSB)

Nehemiah 8:6
Ezrah praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, "Amen, Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (HCSB)

So it is clear that God's Word encourages us to lift our hands in worship. There are also many scriptures exhorting us to lift up our hands in prayer, but we will take a look at some of those in my next post.

My own experience is that it can be a meaningful part of our worship experience to lift our hands to the Lord. It can bring a deeper intimacy to your worship experience. Does that mean that if you don't lift your hands that you're not worshiping? Of course not! God is looking not on the outward appearance, but on the heart, seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. At the same time, if you are lifting your hands in worship, you shouldn't feel awkward or "out of place" if those around you aren't. Don't worry if someone who is not really entering into worship gives you a strange look when you lift your hands. You're not worshiping for their approval but God's! We all need to remember that our worship is not for show, to impress those around us (that was one of the problems the Pharisees had), but it is an outpouring of the love and adoration we have for God alone!

Lord I Lift Your Name On High

What does it mean to lift God's name on high? It means to praise Him for who He is. The prophet Habakkuk said, "His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with His praise" (Hab. 3:3), which gives us more than enough reason to lift His name on high. Rick Founds, the composer of this song, praises God for coming to earth, for dying, and for rising again. Through this praise song, Founds retells, in simple, brief form, the story of salvation. As you meditate on this song, praise God for who He is and for what He has done for you.

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

Lord, I love to sing Your praises.

I'm so glad You're in my life.

I'm so glad You came to save us.

You came from heaven to earth to show the way.

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky;

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)

Melchizedek

There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors--no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God. (Hebrews 7:3 NLT)

Here is another worship profile from the Praise and Worship Study Bible. This is a great study bible for those who want to learn more about biblical praise and worship.

Melchizedek

Some of us may remember the old television show The Lone Ranger. Each week this Western hero would fearlessly rescue someone in trouble. Then, astride his trusty steed, Silver, and accompanied by his faithful sidekick, Tonto, every kid's favorite lawman would gallop off into the sunset. Stunned but thankful townspeople would stare at the dissipating clouds of dust and ask the now-familiar question, "Who was that masked man?" That same kind of puzzling curiosity is often the response of believers after they have read about the Bible character named Melchizedek. Who was that obscure character? Where did he come from? And most important, what lessons can we learn from him?

Melchizedek the Worshiper

The name Melchizedek means "king of justice." He is identified in Genesis 14 as both the king and priest of Salem. We are introduced to him following Abram's military rescue of Lot from a coalition of local kings led by Ledorloamer. Melchizedek came to the victorious Abram, offered his tired troops a meal, and pronounced a blessing. Then, in a flash, this mysterious priest was gone.

Other than a few later references to him in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5-7 (where he is compared to Christ, the ultimate King and Priest), Melchizedek totally disappears from the biblical record. Nevertheless, his brief appearance offers us insights about worship: First, he is an example of one who worships; and second, he illustrates some of the characteristics of Jesus Christ, the one who truly deserves our worship.

Learning from Melchizedek

Consider Melchizedek's example of worship. Although he was a secular king, he had a sacred faith in God Most High, the one true God. Consequently, he recognized the hand of God and the blessing of God in all the affairs of men--even in a nearby military skirmish. Melchizedek stopped whatever he was doing and went to celebrate with the faithful servants of God. He was quick to give God all the glory. Do we look at the world with that same perspective? Do we recognize God's sovereignty in all things and spontaneously gather with other worshipers to acknowledge it gladly? Or do we live primarily as secular men and women, relegating God and worship to a mere hour each Sunday morning?

Following the Example

Consider the characteristics that Melchizedek shared with Jesus Christ---the one who truly deserves our worship. As a priest, Melchizedek served as mediator between people and God. He pronounced blessings. He willingly received Abram's gift of a tithe. The example of Melchizedek should remind us , as blessed people, to give back to God a portion of what we have been given. Do we do that gladly and thankfully? We cannot worship God rightly as long as we are clutching our possessions tightly. These are the lessons of Melchizedek, the mysterious high priest in the life of Abram.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 63)

Here is another excerpt from the classic book by C. S. Lewis--Mere Christianity:

That is why the Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or--if they think there is not--at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.

Jesus Receives Sinners

"This man receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2

Here is another thoughtful devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners--this Man receiveth sinners. This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces--this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel's tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful--they are of our own race; but that he, the offended God, against who the transgression has been committed, should take upon himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvellous.

"This Man receiveth sinners"; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but he receives them that he may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by his purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve him, to show forth his praise, and to have communion with him. Into his heart's love he receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears them as jewels in his crown; plucks them as brands from the burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of his mercy. None are so precious in Jesus' sight as the sinners for whom he died. When Jesus receives sinners, he has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where he charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars, but he opens the golden gates of his royal heart, and receives the sinner right into himself--yea, he admits the humble penitent into personal union and makes him a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, he is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive him.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 62)

Here is another excerpt from the classic book about what Christians believe, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. This passage is about believing things on authority:

Do not be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine percent of the things you believe are believed on authority. I believe there is such a place as New York. I have not seen it myself. I could not prove by abstract reasoning that there must be such a place. I believe it because reliable people have told me so. The ordinary man believes in the Solar System, atoms, evolution, and the circulation of the blood on authority--because the scientists say so. Every historical statement in the world is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Armada. None of us could prove them by pure logic as you prove a thing mathematics. We believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them: in fact, on authority. A man who jibbed at authority in other things as some people do in religion would have to be content to know nothing all his life.

What is Worship?

Here is an excerpt from Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God's Call by Vernon M. Whaley.

But, wait. What is worship? What do we mean when we use the word? Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) defines worship as "reverence offered a divine being" as well as the "act of expressing such reverence." So, we are to show God reverence. But how? What acts demonstrate reverence for God? Does the Bible offer guidance?

In Scripture, the Hebrew word for worship is shachah, meaning "to kneel, stoop, prostrate oneself, or throw oneself down, in reverence." Closely related are the Hebrew words shabach, "to shout to the Lord"; yadah, "to worship with uplifted hands"; halal, "to celebrate God foolishly and boast about His attributes (love, mercy, goodness, etc.)"; and tehillah, "to sing spontaneous songs of praise."

In the Greek, the word for worship, proskuneo, means to express deep respect or adoration--by kissing, with words, or by bowing down. Associated words include epaineo, "to commend or applaud"; aineo, "to praise God"; and sebomai, "to revere."

That's a lot of words, with diverse definitions. And these aren't the only biblical terms that relate to worship. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance offers a wealth of information regarding the various words for worship and its synonyms. But how can we make all of this information relevant? When we tie all of these words and their meaning together, what does it all boil down to?

Love. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (NKJV). Jesus repeated this command three times in the New Testament (Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). Why? Because it's what we were made for---to love God. And if we are in love with Him, we will naturally want to worship Him (shachah). He's done so much for you and me that it only seems right to fall down before Him (cagad), to throw up our hands in surrender (yadah), to sing His praises (zamar)--to worship Him.

Do you love Jesus? Why?

"Thou whom my soul loveth." (Song of Solomon 1:7)

Do you love Jesus? Why do love Jesus? This devotional by Charles Spurgeon touches on these questions.

It is well to be able, without any "if" or "but", to say of the Lord Jesus---"Thou whom my soul loveth." Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love him. The old saints did not generally speak with "buts," and "ifs," and "hopes," and "trusts," but they spoke positively and plainly. "I know whom I have believed," saith Paul. "I know that my Redeemer liveth," saith Job. Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and be not satisfied till you can speak of your interest in him as a reality, which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and his seal upon your soul by faith.

True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit's work, and must be wrought in the heart by him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in himself. Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because he "gave himself for us." We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person. We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms! a consciousness of his infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims, "Yea, he is altogether lovely." Blessed love this---a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!

Paul

We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who us over us all and in us all and living through us all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NLT)

The following worship profile is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. I highly recommend this study Bible for all who want to learn more about biblical praise and worship. Let's take a look at some of the things we can learn about worship from the life of the apostle Paul:

Imagine that you are a believer in the first-century church. You have come to hear the apostle Paul as he describes his life's work. With deep reverence he describes what happened to him on the Damascus road. He speaks poignantly and powerfully about mercy and grace and forgiveness. As you listen to Paul pour out his heart, you suddenly grasp what he meant by phrases like "to live is Christ," "I want to know Christ," and "we make it our goal to please him." This is a man who has understood what it means to worship with all one's heart.

Paul the Worshiper

Other than Christ, perhaps no other person has shaped the form of Christian worship more than the apostle Paul. His passionate concern for both content and order is seen in the structure of countless Christian worship traditions. Our sharing of the Lord's Table, for instance, is based on Paul's words to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11).

Paul infused life into corporate worship by giving meaning to Old Testament practices. Steeped as he was in Jewish worship and theology, Paul transformed the rich liturgical content of Judaism by placing it in the context of Christ's redemptive work.

Learning from Paul

Paul taught by example. The worshipers who gathered in the various congregations he founded not only heard powerful words but saw a man who lived out his faith. His own devotion to Christ inspired others to follow God wholeheartedly.

Prayer permeates the letters of Paul. He urged others to pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and offered intercessory prayer for all his churches. He also articulated prayers of worship that proclaim the magnificent work of Christ (see Ephesians 3:20).

Paul did everything in his power to help the church work in unity. He encouraged Christians to develop spiritual gifts that would benefit the whole body. He confronted sin that would disrupt harmony. He encouraged the faithful and admonished the indifferent. He stressed the need for self-discipline in the cause of serving Christ. He undertook everything with the intent of bringing God the glory.

In worship, Paul emphasized the elements of prayer, praise, the reading and teaching of Scripture, and regular partaking at the Lord's Table. When we gather for worship, these elements should all be incorporated frequently.

Following the Example

Survey one of Paul's letters and make a list of the elements that speak of either individual or corporate worship. Note the truths about God's character, the reasons for intercession, the occasions for praise, and the practical advice about gathering together. Then assess your strengths and weaknesses. How well do you build up others? How faithfully do you praise God for his mighty work in the church? Let God speak to you through his Word and Spirit as you seek to honor him through your ministry to others.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 52)

Here is one of my favorite passages from the classic book by C. S. Lewis--Mere Christianity:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Worship: The Antidote to Anxiety

Here is another worship devotional from Captivated by the Heart of God by David Good. This one gives us some good advice about how to deal with anxiety:

All of us deal with anxiety to some extent. Some more than others. It is difficult not to be anxious, especially in today's fast-paced culture that expects more of us than ever before. To think that we can create a worry-free life is naive, but God has given us a powerful tool to help us deal with anxiety and find true joy even in the midst of adversity and trials. Philippians 4:4-9 gives us six steps to overcome anxiety.

Step #1--Rejoice in the Lord always.

To rejoice means to be exceedingly glad. The emphasis is not on finding joy in what is happening or has happened, but in what God is doing and will do. To rejoice in the Lord always does not mean to be happy, but to find joy in God's future provision.

Step #2--Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The encouragement is to strive to respond in gentleness in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is hard to be gentle when you are stressed. What helps is to focus on what God is doing, not on what is happening. Don't forget that Paul tells us the Lord is near, ever-present. You don't have to worry.

Step #3--Do not be anxious about anything.

This does mean not to worry, but it means so much more. It actually means not to fall into the trap of looking out for or promoting your own interests; don't try to make things work out for your best; avoid self-reliance. Let God be your sole source of provision. Make your requests known to Him and He will take care of it for you.

Step #4--Accept God's gift of peace.

The word peace means rest and safety. It literally means exemption from the rage and havoc of war. This step is the result of following the first three--rejoicing in the Lord, being gentle and not being anxious. Steps one, two and three are steps we take toward God. Steps four and five are steps God takes towards us in response.

Step #5--Accept God's gift of safety.

This is the second step that God takes towards us. Paul says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The word guard literally means to protect by military guard; to prevent hostile invasion. He will keep the enemy from penetrating your heart and your mind. This will bring a peace that doesn't make sense. You can hear the bombs going off around you, but for some strange reason, you aren't worried and you will sleep like a baby.

Step #6--Meditate on God's Word.

It is imperative that you train your mind to keep going back to the truth; what is right and lovely, not ugly; what is good, not what is bad. To think on means to decide; agree with; to focus on facts, not suppositions. Do this and the God of Peace will be with you. He won't just send us peace. He himself, the God who is Peace, will come along side us! What a wonderful promise. I want more than just peace. I want the Peace-maker.

When you are feeling a little anxious, follow these simple steps that will lead you to peace and safety. Remember that you have a choice. You can either be a victim of your circumstances, or you can take action through Christ and be a victor in the midst of your circumstances.

Riches of Christ

"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8

Another great devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Savior than you think him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on his head, you will only crown him with silver when he deserves gold.

My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of his pipe, when he is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at his feet. There is no love like his, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in him--oh! this is the life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined.

My Master does not treat his servants churlishly; he gives to them as a king giveth to a king; he gives them two heavens--a heaven below in serving him here, and a heaven above in delighting in him for ever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defense shall be your munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, there, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One.

The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.

Consolation

"Everlasting consolation."  2 Thessalonians 2:16

Here is another devotional from Charles Spurgeon:

"Consolation." There is music in the word: like David's harp, it charms away the evil spirit of melancholy. It was a distinguished honor to Barnabas to be called "the son of consolation"; nay, it is one of the illustrious names of a greater than Barnabas, for the Lord Jesus is "the consolation of Israel." "Everlasting consolation"--here is the cream of all, for the eternity of comfort is the crown and glory of it. What is this "everlasting consolation"? It includes a sense of pardoned sin. A Christian man has received in his heart the witness of the Spirit that his iniquities are put away like a cloud, and his transgressions like a thick cloud. If sin be pardoned, is not that an everlasting consolation?

Next, the Lord gives his people an abiding sense of acceptance in Christ. The Christian knows that God looks upon him as standing in union with Jesus. Union to the risen Lord is a consolation of the most abiding order; it is, in fact, everlasting. Let sickness prostrate us, have we not seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in the strength of hale and blooming health? Let death's arrows pierce us to the heart, our comfort dies not, for have not our ears full often heard the songs of saints as they have rejoiced because the living love of God was shed abroad in their hearts in dying moments? Yes, a sense of acceptance in the Beloved is an everlasting consolation.

Moreover, the Christian has a conviction of his security. God has promised to save those who trust in Christ: the Christian does trust in Christ, and he believes that God will be as good as his word, and will save him. He feels that he is safe by virtue of his being bound up with the person and work of Jesus.

Drawing Near to His Presence

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near to God..."  Hebrews 10:19, 22

Here is another devotional about worship and the presence of God from David Good's book, Captivated by the Heart of God. In it the author makes some important distinctions between the destination of our worship and the vehicle that we use to get there.

God's design for worship is that it be an experience that is personal, one-on-one and face-to-face. That is the kind of God he is and he created us for that single purpose. I love how the Catholic catechism states, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." It couldn't be better said than that. As we draw near to God in worship, it is important that we understand the difference between the vehicle, the destination and the response of worship.

First of all, worship is not the destination. His presence is the destination in worship. One disturbing trend I see in modern worship is that we sometimes seem to make worship the end. Worship is not the goal. His presence is. Worship is merely our response to him. We need to take great care that the focus of our worship is him and nothing else. We need to get over our fascination with worship and direct our attention and awe back to him where it rightfully belongs.

Second, worship is not the vehicle that gets us into God's presence. It is very clear in Hebrews 10:19 that the only way to his presence is through the blood of Jesus. Nothing less and nothing more. Jesus' blood is the vehicle that gets us to the destination which is God's presence. Another disturbing trend is that worship has become the vehicle to the presence of the Lord. Worship is not something we do to get there. It is what we do because we are there. It is important to understand that. Remember, the blood of Christ is the only way to his presence.

This puts worship in its proper perspective. The blood of Jesus opens the way for us to the presence of God and worship is our natural response. The reality is that worship is not something we do, it is who we are. May you be filled with a deeper desire for more of his presence in your life.

Luke

Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 NLT

The following is another worship profile from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. I recommend this Bible for all who want to learn more about Biblical praise and worship.

Skillful author, faithful friend, servant of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and physician. These are the facts we know about Luke from the accounts and letters of the New Testament. Most scholars also believe that Luke penned the book of Acts as well as the Gospel that bears his name. Using such information, we are able to piece together a portrait of a man whose gift to the church was his portrait of the life of Jesus Christ and of the early church that joyfully sprang up to celebrate Christ's work.

Luke the Worshiper

Luke was a Gentile and a physician, making his home in Syrian Antioch. He may also have been a brother of Titus, another of Paul's invaluable co-workers. The "we" references found in Acts 16, 20, and 27 most likely refer to Luke's participation in Paul's missionary journeys. Luke may have been one of Paul's earliest Gentile converts.

Luke is also mentioned in Acts 28:16, Romans 16:21, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 24. He was clearly a participant in the rigorous challenges of Paul's missionary journeys. As an important witness to Christian missionary activity, Luke chronicled the spread of Christian worship from Jerusalem, where it was largely a Jewish practice, to the boundaries of the first-century civilized world, where it took on characteristics of many other cultures and people groups.

Learning from Luke

Luke reminds us that Christian worship begins with the gift of the Holy Spirit and particularly emphasized the leading of the Spirit in the work of the church (Luke 4:1; 11:13; Acts 2:1-21; 4:8, 31; 8:15-19). Luke painted compelling portraits of the worshiping church. He recorded beautiful songs of praise from the lips of Zechariah, Simeon, and Mary. He described the glorious chant of the angels and they greeted the shepherds. He showed the communal spirit of the first Christians as they prayed, broke bread, and shared possessions.

Luke reminds us that the demands on the Christian worshiper may be difficult. The cost of discipleship may involve physical discomfort or financial sacrifice. Luke shows Christians sharing their possessions and sending love offerings to the hurting "mother church" in Jerusalem.

Luke's inclusion of women, Samaritans, and Gentiles in his narratives shows how the church had to expand its boundaries beyond its comfort zone. It clearly illustrates the universal character of Christian worship. It is not for one people or gender but for all.

Following the Example

In many church traditions today, worship is structured around the events of the Christian calendar. One of these events is Pentecost, which celebrates the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke's writings. In Acts 1:2, Luke noted that the instructions of Christ were given through the Holy Spirit to the apostles. In chapter 2, the promised coming of the Holy Spirit inaugurates the outpouring of Christian worship throughout the world. As you study the book of Acts, take careful note of the Holy Spirit's activity and the church's grateful response to God's sovereignty.

The Power of Verbal Praise

Throughout my many years as a worship leader, I have often been confounded by the lack of participation in worship from many members in the congregation. I see some who refuse to sing along, and I think, "Maybe it's just because this is a new praise song they don't know", and then we go into a traditional hymn that I'm sure everyone knows and they still don't open their mouths! It's almost like they are making the statement, "Go ahead, I dare you to make me sing", or maybe "It doesn't matter if I enter into worship or not...I'm here ain't I?" Sometimes I just wonder if they know the same Savior I do and if they understand what God has done for us by redeeming us through Christ's sacrifice. Don't they have reason enough to sing His praises?


Here is another worship devotional from David Good's book, "Captivated by the Heart of God: 40 Daily Devotionals from the Life of a Worship Leader". This devotional does a good job of addressing the bad attitudes mentioned above.

Several years ago, while I was teaching a class on worship, I made the statement that worship is a verb to illustrate the importance of our verbal response and participation in worship. After class I was approached by an older gentleman who emphatically said that he believed it didn't matter if he verbally responds in worship. His rationale was that God can read his mind and he doesn't like to sing anyway. Therefore, he saw corporate worship as a waste of time. After telling him I admired his honesty, I shared three reasons why it is vital that we verbalize our praise to God in worship.

First of all, James 3:2 says that whoever has control of your mouth has control over your entire will. The tongue is like the rudder of a ship. It sets the course and direction a ship travels. Our mouth is the rudder of our heart and how we use our mouth proves who is in control. The powerful principle of verbal praise is that when we lift our voice in praise, it shows who is directing our will. It is safe to assume that if we refuse to verbally respond in worship, we are showing that God is not the one who has control of us.

The second reason is found in Matthew 15:11 and 18. Jesus tells us that what comes out of my mouth reveals what is in my heart. That's a scary thought. Our initial reaction might be to keep our mouths shut so that we don't reveal anything bad about ourselves. But the intent is to cause the opposite reaction. It should compel us to voice our praise to the Lord every chance we get so that those around us can see that our hearts are filled with his love, grace and mercy. Keeping silent doesn't hide what is inside but reveals what is missing. We may never curse and swear or gossip behind someone's back because that would make us look bad. But Jesus is trying to help us understand that we say more about ourselves when we say nothing at all.

The final reason is where the real power of verbal praise comes in. Revelation 12:11 says, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." What this verse tells us is that next to the shed blood of Christ, worship is the most powerful weapon we have to defeat the power of Satan in our daily lives. Think for a moment about what the word of our testimony means. I can't think of any better way to declare the word of my testimony than through worship. Isn't that what worship is all about? When we sing songs of worship, we are declaring the truth of who he is and what he has done for us. We are declaring the testimony of Christ and Satan is powerless against that. When we choose not to verbally praise God, we are choosing to subjugate ourselves to the power of the enemy.

I hope that you are beginning to see that there is tremendous power in verbal praise. The bottom line is using your mouth requires an act of your will. No one can force you to verbally respond in worship, but you miss so much when you choose not to. That is why David said in Psalm 89, "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."

Experiencing God's Glory in the Difficulties of Life

"The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory."  Deuteronomy 5:24

Here is another great devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

God's great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honor, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted: and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see his "wonders in the deep." Among the huge Atlantic waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as if passed by.

Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

The Spiritual Discipline of Being Still

This is an interesting devotional about withdrawing and "being still" from David Good's book, Captivated by the Heart of God: 40 Daily Devotionals from the life of a Worship Leader .

From the moment my son left his mother's womb and came into this world he became a perpetual motion machine. As an infant, it was always a battle to get him to go to sleep because somehow he knew he would miss out on all the fun. He also absolutely refused to be held facing you because he couldn't see what was happening. He had to be held facing out. This is no exaggeration when I tell you that when he learned to walk, he was in high gear until he laid his head down and fell asleep. Now, as a teenager, he sleeps every chance he gets and grimaces at the mere thought of doing any sort of manual labor. I guess he is making up for all those years of high energy living.

I have to work at relaxing. My mind is always at work, thinking about the next project ahead of me and the appointments and deadlines that wait for me the next day. I am one of those people that watch TV while reading the paper or surfing the internet. I am a multi-tasker. This type of personality has many positive qualities. It also has some inherent pitfalls.

In Psalm 46:10 David tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." In the fast-paced, instant society we live in, it is no easy task sometimes to just be still. The Hebrew meaning for "be still" is to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake; to let go; to withdraw. As we juggle schedules and deadlines, race here and there to get the kids to soccer practice and then piano lessons, make dinner and clean up, answer emails and return calls, spend quality time with the family, God gets overshadowed and we get overwhelmed. These necessary and important things have a way of looming large and blocking our view of God as we race through our day. It is vital that we learn to be still or withdraw from all the stuff so that we can once again see him and know who he is. In doing this, we allow his greatness to overshadow everything else. This takes practice and discipline so that it becomes a habit.

What do you need to withdraw from today? I would liket to invite you to take up a 7-day challenge to withdraw. For seven days commit to take five minutes every day and turn off our phone and computer, turn off the TV, turn off the worship music, and even put your bible away for those five minutes. Do nothing but sit in silence with absolutely no distractions so that you can be still and just listen. As you do this, keep a daily journal of what you heard during those quiet moments. I challenge you to try it. It's easier said than done. We get so accustomed to all the background noise that when we turn it off we get nervous. As a worship leader I am absolutely amazed at how difficult it is to get a congregation to just spend 30 seconds in silence to allow God to speak to us. People fidget and loor around to see why no one is doing anything. We have become so addicted to noise that we even fill our Sunday morning services with 2 hours of non-stop singing and talking and we never let God get a word in.

I have this sneaky suspicion that the majority of our stress is not due to all the stuff we have to do, but because we just won't sit still long enough to let God speak his words of peace and reassurance to us. It is in the still, quiet moments that we find him, not in the thunder. It's the quiet whisper that we need to look for. We need to withdraw from the noise, climb up onto his lap and listen to him whisper his words of truth and reassurance into our ear. That is what brings peace, hope and life in the middle of chaos, stress and anxiety. Isaiah 40:31 says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." That word wait literally means to linger in his presence. Our strength is renewed in the spiritual descipline of withdrawing and lingering. As you practice disconnecting, you will find a renewed and deepened connection with God.

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns 

By Steve Pruitt 

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
                                                                                                                                 2 Timothy 2:5 NKJV


Six times in the Revelation of Jesus Christ we read that the twenty-four elders fall down and worship.
The fact that these elders were sitting on thrones  brings us to the conclusion they had some power to
render judgment. However, with each new revelation of God and the Lamb they quickly deserted their
place of judgment and took the proper place of worship. In Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders not
only bowed in worship, but also cast their crowns before the throne of God.

In ancient times crowns were given to rulers or athletes; individuals who had conquered something.
A good example of this can be seen in the movie Ben Hur. Judah Ben Hur (Charlton Heston) is presented
with a crown by Pontius Pilate after winning the chariot race.

In his letters to the Philippians and Thessalonians Paul says the believers living in those cities are his
crown. Other crowns are mentioned in scripture such as the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8),
crown of life (James 1:12 and Revelations 2:10), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). All of these crowns
are rewards for obedience to the call of God.

Paul makes reference to the presentation of crowns in his letter to the Corinthians. He said, Do you
not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run is such a way that you may
obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

John writes in Revelation 19:12 that the rider of the white horse, which is Jesus, is wearing many
crowns. In "Manners and Customs of the Bible" James M. Freeman writes that monarchs who claimed
authority over more than one country wore more than one crown. The vision of Jesus wearing many
crowns establishes the truth that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The twenty-four elders took the glory they had received for their work and cast it before the throne of
God. They understood that the only one worthy to receive glory was the one who sat on the throne. Jesus
was their King and Lord and they adorned him with their crowns. He had conquered their souls.
To live a life of worship we must have a revelation that Jesus alone is worthy of glory and lay all of
our crowns at his feet. Jesus must be the conqueror of our soul.

Has Jesus conquered your soul? Does he get all the  glory from your life? Have you laid all your
crowns at his feet? Ask the Father to give you the same humility as the twenty-four elders.


Scriptures for meditation:
Isaiah 42:8  
1 Corinthians 9:26 
2 Timothy 4:7 

Copyright © 2007 Steve Pruitt/JustWorship.com 

All rights reserved. Used by permission. 

Creator Worship

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by 
your will they exist and were created.  
                                                                                                                            Revelations 4:11 NKJV 

Here's another worship devotional by Steve Pruitt:

These were the words spoken by the twenty-four elders which John witnessed and recorded in the
Revelation of Jesus Christ. These twenty-four elders hold an enviable position in John's vision. Seated
around the throne of God, they have access to the grandest revelations of the Creator and his Son. These
revelations produce worship responses that only those who have intimate relationship with the King dare
to offer. Their relationship with the King is evident for only those with such intimacy are given such
access to the throne room.

Five times in Revelations it is stated that God is worthy to receive glory, honor and power. To give
him glory, honor and power means that God alone deserves to have all eyes look to him, to be noted
above all others and to be seen as valuable and precious. He is to be esteemed in the highest degree and to
have all power and strength and to be power itself. In other instances glory, honor and power are
mentioned along with thanksgiving, strength, wisdom, riches, blessing and might. To be worthy to receive
something means there has been some action performed by the recipient. Why is God worthy?  He 
created all things! Thus, he has met the requirements and is worthy to be worshiped.

The Greek word used here for created expresses the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer. God
fabricated or originally formed all things. By his will, (his determination, choice, purpose, volition, or
decree) they exist. In other words by his determined choice and for his specific purpose he decreed the
existence of all things. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, 
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17)  

In Psalm 148 all of creation is commanded to praise God because, He commanded and they were
created. To participate in heaven's worship service we must join with the elders and the rest of creation in
offering uninhibited praise and worship to our Creator.

Have you joined with the rest of creation in worship of your creator? Ask the Father to give you a
fresh revelation of him as the creator.


Scriptures for meditation:
Genesis 1:1  
John 1:3 
Revelation 10:5-6 
Ephesians 3:8-12 

Copyright © 2007 Steve Pruitt/JustWorship.com 

All rights reserved. Used by permission.