The Encourager
“Observations on Worship - Jeff Curtis”
Observations on Worship
By Jeff Curtis
More than any other passage, 1Corinthians 14 gives an insight into what New Testament Christians did when they assembled. Christians today might wish for a passage that begins, “When you assemble on the first day of the week, you are to do this…,” followed by a step-by-step approach. For his own reasons, God has not chosen to set the worship before us in that way. Here is what we may safely say. (1) In the New Testament period, Christians were guided by apostolic revelation to meet on each Lord’s Day (1Corinthians 11:20; 16:2). (2) During the assembly Christians observed the Lord’s Supper (11:20-26; Acts 20:7), sang, prayed, and learned the gospel message as it was taught by inspired men (14:26). In addition, they gave according to their ability (16:2).
Christian assembly is a door that God has opened so we can answer His call and respond to our Creator. We are mystified by life and by the great universe in which we live. Experience had taught us that we are fragile creatures; tomorrow is uncertain. Through worship, we commune with the Creator, the Eternal One. None of us knows how to have a relationship with God or other people in the absence of giving, receiving, and sharing. We give to people we love. We share with them our words, our presence, out time, and our belongings. Relationships require interaction. It’s no different with God. Worship is the means God has ordained so that we can interact with Him.
Worship, like all other things people do, is tainted with sin. No one has been endowed with a sinless purity of soul that allows him to know instinctively how to honor and praise God. To worship God requires that believers listen to Him and worship as He directs. It’s easy to allow what we intend as worship to denigrate into self-praise for our own glory. If we are to offer our worship to God, we must listen to what He wants us to do.
By His grace, God accepts our feeble praise. God welcomes our gift of worship when we try to honor Him. Many don’t try; many seem unmindful of Him. When we, as Christians give our best in worship, good results will happen. God refines our worship. His Spirit works within us and teaches us to pray and to honor Him. Alexander Graham Bell wasn’t trying to invent a telephone when he discovered the form of communication was possible. His wife was nearly deaf, and he was trying to develop a way to convert sound into some type symbols she could interpret.
The inventor learned by accident that sound should be carried over wires. Bell wasn’t trying to make a telephone, but he was doing something when he made his discovery. When we do something, we listen to God and try to worship Him, by God’s grace good things come from our efforts. Even with all our sins and inadequacies, God is pleased when we worship Him.
