Hebrews 10:22-25 (NLT)
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Two scenarios:
1. Wake up reluctantly. Sluggishly drag yourself from the bed, the weight of the day already upon your shoulders. Wander to the coffee pot or shower. Fuss and fight over getting the kids ready. Fuss over being late. Fuss about even making the effort to go to church. Already thinking about plans after the service. What time the game is on, who’s playing, who’ll win the Super Bowl. Or some other television program. Or the problems Monday will bring.
2. “Let it rise from the four winds, caught up in the heavenly sound, let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals, to the faithful gathered underground, of all the songs sung since the dawn of creation, some were meant to persist, of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples, none rings truer than this, and all the powers of darkness tremble at what they’ve just heard, ‘cause all the powers of darkness, can’t drown out a single word…” -from “He Reigns” by the Newsboys
Corporate worship is vitality to the Christ follower. Yes, we’re one body. Strength in numbers. Where two or more are gathered, the Spirit is there. A small taste of heaven. Unity. Neglect not the meeting of yourselves. To deny it is spiritual suicide. At this point, all of that is a given…
The focus of the devotion this morning is the beat of our collective heart. The spiritual heart, our soul. Where is our heart when it comes to gathering for worship?
Do you fall into the former camp- where we make it to church out of an obligation, duty, chore, expectation, or tradition? And we attend reluctantly, unhappily, disgruntled, or seething?
Or do we fall into the latter camp- reflecting the lyrics of the Newsboys song? Where it doesn’t matter where, how, who, or why you meet? Your desire is simply to come together and worship the Risen Lord?
Here’s some perspective:
Years ago, a missionary from Malawi (Africa) came through the church I attended at the time. While he shared many stories of both the tragic and miraculous, one thing stuck out to me above all else. He related how the people from the villages “did church” over there. Because of their isolated locales, they would only get to meet every couple of weeks. But when they did! Choruses of praise were heard long before the villagers arrived at the Meeting Place. They sang and danced and clapped in worship for hours, pausing only long enough to hear the Scripture read aloud, to break bread, to pray, and to visit. They ate together and swapped stories of encouragement. They cried on one another’s shoulders if they had issues. They brought with them what little they had to share and shared it. Despite the arduous journey and giving up their entire weekend, great joy and love permeated the entire gatherings. Its church the way church is meant to me. Giving up yourself to find it in Jesus and in his body- the church.
So here we stand again. Do you desire Refuge to be a church such as this? A unified congregation grateful for the opportunity to come together to praise our Savior. To sing from the heart. To listen and apply the Word. To offer strength and encouragement. To compassionately listen and lean on one another. To bring what little we have to share with others.
If we all bring the little we have (spiritual gifts included), together it adds up to something truly awesome. This is only the beginning of what corporate worship is about.
Just wait…
