Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/90

Contributor - Mary Van Essen

Title - Come, Let Us Worship The Lord

Topic - Editorial

How much is God worth to us? in a very real sense, we show Him what He means to us through church worship. The worship services we attend give us an outlet to express our feeling for God.

Worship is the action of acknowledging God's worth (Worship the Lord, J.R. Esther, D.J. Bruggink, eds.). By its very nature, then, church worship must involve the active participation of all of God's people. Church worship is not a spectator sport.

In fact, church worship, at its best, enables God's people to express their faith through many vehicles: hymns, responsive readings, corporate prayers, confession of faith, the offering of possessions, and the sharing of how God is working in our lives. God, in turn, speaks to us through the preaching of the Word and the sacraments. And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we experience the bond of love which unites us as Christians. Church worship gives the opportunity to praise God, confess our sins, receive forgiveness, experience joy and grow in our knowledge of God and how He wants us to live our lives.

What we get out of a worship service depends, to a large degree, on what we put into it. Do we begin the service with our thoughts scattered on everything but God? Are we there only because we feel we have to be, or because ft's just what we do every Sunday morning? Are we preoccupied with who else is or isn't there, or perhaps with what they are wearing?

Or, do we approach God with reverence and humility? Are we alert, excited, and ready to show Him how much He means to us? Do we actively participate in the service and actively listen to God's Word? Are we open to His teaching and ready to be moulded as He sees fit?

The best description of worship I've heard is "losing oneself during the encounter with God's greatness" (Worship The Lord). God is so mighty, so awesome ... yet while we were still His enemies He chose us to be His children. Our very existence depends totally on Him. He is our sustainer. What a wonderful God we have! He is ever so worthy of our praise and adoration. He is ever so worthy of our undivided attention and full participation in worship services.

Let's learn to focus our thoughts totally on God and actively worship Him in His house. Let our attitude be: "You are worthy, our Lord and Cod to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being!' (Rev. 4:11)

Let's learn to lose ourselves as we encounter

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