Worship
Scripture
One of the brightest seasons I remember in church followed in the aftermath of one of the darkest seasons. A disgruntled faction had combatted the church’s leadership for months. Sunday attendance had sagged to embarrassing lows. Congregational worship was boring, lifeless, and insincere. I remember going into the fellowship hall on Sunday mornings before church to grab a cup of coffee. Which faction was hanging out at the coffee pot? When the disgruntled gang staked their territorial claim to the coffee maker for one of their conspiratorial huddles, that was a coffee-less morning for me!
When the winter of that dreary spell broke after one of the disgruntled faction’s schemes exploded in their hands, they gathered up their bibles and purses and literally walked out, hurling predictions over their shoulders as they departed that the church would die without their leadership and financial means.
But that church’s death was not God’s plan. Instead, a radical season of revival swept through the body. Attendance soared. The congregation raised the rafters of the sanctuary with worship and music, vibrant and alive. On meeting days, we came early and stayed late as fellowship flourished. Church was fun!
Since that experience, I am more than ever convinced that church should be fun—not in the sense of entertaining, but in the sense that my family and I look forward to Sunday as our favorite day of the week because that’s the day God’s family gathers. And God surely loves his family together when the family is united in purpose and calling.
In today’s reading, we see a similar revival of fellowship and worship breaking out after Hezekiah’s reforms in the aftermath of King Ahaz’s dark, evil, and corrupt administration. We find the word fellowship, so rarely occurring in the Old Testament, used in this passage to describe the unity that surged throughout the community as Hezekiah and the priests led the community to re-discover and return to authentic worship. They were having fun!
We recognize a spiritual principle in Hezekiah’s day, a principle that is no less true today: When God’s family comes together, united in worship and purpose, God takes pleasure. The past is overcome. God moves, convicts, reveals and heals. Worship soars. Fellowship abounds.
Church is fun! Amen!
So now, how about we have some fun?
Prayer
HONOR GOD
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has given us new life in Christ. Take a moment and thank Him for this incredible gift!
ASK GOD
John 3:21 NIV
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Living by truth brings light and sight. Ask God to give you a heart for His truth. What do you need to confess to Him? Where do you need His help?
SUBMIT TO GOD
John 3:18 NIV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Submit your heart to God today and live free of condemnation!
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, you are gracious. You’ve given me life. You’ve redeemed my soul, and given me power through the Holy Spirit. Help me to live like you today. In Jesus Name, Amen!