SATURDAY – JANUARY 30, 2021
ACTIVE WORSHIP
Main Text – Luke 4:8 – And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Psalm 100:4 – Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his court with praise.
It was Pastor Ray Stedman who said that he wished that Churchgoers could stand in the pulpit on a Sunday morning and watch the faces in the congregation during the sermon. For although most people seem to give the minister their attention, many have their minds elsewhere. Stedman writes “it would be fascinating at the end of the service to know where everybody has been”.
To receive the greatest benefit from a church service, we must prepare our hearts and become active participants. We must become wholeheartedly involved in singing the hymns, silently praying as the Pastor leads the congregation in prayer, and worshipping from the heart as the Choir sings.
Finally, we need to discipline ourselves to listen intently with a receptive heart to the teachings of God’s word. We must develop a hunger for the truth that quiets our spirits, inspires worship, evokes praise to God and moves us to serve him.
It is easy to blame the Pastor if we leave the service feeling empty and discouraged, but he is just one participant, we must do our part.
THOSE WHO GET THE MOST OUT OF WORSHIP ARE THOSE WHO PUT THEIR MOST INTO IT.
Prayer: Ancient of days, as we worship you, help us to worship you in truth and spirit with all our soul, spirit and body.