Aug/092
The Turning Point
“Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.” — Romans 4:3 (MSG)
I wrote this scripture down a few weeks ago when I was reading Romans from the Message Bible. Abraham’s turning point came when he finally realized what God was doing for him (Abraham). How many times do we work really hard without realizing that God is already doing all the hard work on our behalf. Perhaps we would be much better off if we stopped trying to work for God and instead began to realize that God is already working for us. As that passage continues, it says that, “He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.” How profound! We all know it. We can’t be made right on our own. We can’t even do right on our own let alone “be made right” on our own. We all know that. However, how we live our lives proves that we don’t believe it. We may know it; yet we don’t actually believe it.
But here’s where it got really good for Abraham. At some point — this turning point — Abraham began to believe what he already knew. He began to believe not only that God was working on his behalf, but also that God, in this working, made him righteous. No longer did Abraham have to strive to make himself right. Instead, he began to rest in the truth that he couldn’t make himself right and this had to be left completely to God. What peace this brings. In some ways, we can’t understand. How can we be made right without doing a thing? This is the essence of faith — not really understanding but choosing to believe and receive anyway.
Jul/092
Worship is a Response
So many times when we consider the word “worship” in the context of most contemporary churches, music is at the forefront of our minds. However, are they one in the same? When teaching about worship, I many times use the analogy I heard some time ago from a seasoned teacher in the field of worship leadership. Here is the analogy.
Let’s use the example of an airplane and a runway. For any of us that have flown on an airplane, we wouldn’t be too pleased with our chosen airline, if we boarded the plane, taxied up and down the runway, and then returned to the gate from which we boarded the airplane. We would look at the flight attendants in disbelief and would demand a refund. Now let’s take this and relate it to worship. In the above example, the music is like a runway; worship is the atmosphere. Just like the runway is only a tool that enables the plane to fly, music is only a tool that allows us to “fly” into the atmosphere of God’s presence. True worship isn’t about music. Music is just a tool that assists us in enabling us to worship.
With this in mind, we must remember that music is a very emotional experience. When we hear music and the sounds, tones, and rhythms that go along with it, it evokes an emotional response in humans. We must remember that this emotional experience as well isn’t worship. Rick Warrens makes this clear when he says,
“Today many equate being emotionally moved by music as being moved by the Spirit, but these are not the same. Real worship happens when your spirit responds to God, not to some musical tone.”
So, what is worship if it isn’t just about music and isn’t just emotional? Here is the key: true worship requires a response. The music, and the emotions that come along with it, should stir in our spirits and cause us to respond.
How do we respond? And to whom or to what are we responding? The Bible is filled with instructions on how we should respond in worship. In the coming posts, we’ll explore those responses.
Jul/092
Preparing Yourself for Worship
As I was reading earlier in the week, I began to ponder the following question: “What am I doing to prepare myself for worship?” Some may look at that question and respond in dumbfounded bewilderment. Those with that response seem to think that corporate worship isn’t something for which we can prepare. Instead, we just come, and we worship. Although it is accurate that we can show up tomorrow morning at our churches and “simply worship,” the question is, “Is there more?”
King David obviously thought there was. He says in 2 Samuel 24:24 —
“But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.” (MSG)
David wasn’t willing to sacrifice something that didn’t cost something. My challenge to all of us is this. As we think about joining our brothers and sisters in Christ tomorrow morning to worship together, let’s think about what we can bring. True worship requires sacrifice. In the Old Testament, that sacrifice was the blood of an animal. Today, true worship still requires sacrifice. However, a blood sacrifice for our worship has already been given through the gift of Jesus on the cross. However, God asks us to sacrifice something – something that costs us.
What is God asking you to sacrifice in preparation for worship today and in the days and weeks to come?
Jul/093
This Aggressive Forgiveness
I just finished reading Romans 5. This particular verse really jumped out at me:
Romans 5:20 (MSG) – But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace.
I love the way the Message Bible reads sometimes. Grace here in this paraphrase is defined as “aggressive forgiveness.” How amazing – grace is God’s aggressive forgiveness of my sin. When this aggressive forgiveness is compared to sin, it can’t stand. I wrote about this a few moments ago in my journal. This thought crossed my mind: “Does this mean that I will not sin?” No, I remain human, and I will sin again. However, when sin is set in comparison to the aggressive forgiveness that Jesus has for me, it can’t even compare. It’s not that Jesus just forgives. His forgiveness is aggressive meaning that his forgiveness pursues me. His grace chases me down to forgive me of my sin. This grace and my Jesus are amazing.
Pastor Jon Plotner
