Two Choices


One of the certainties is that Sunday is coming. And once again we Christians will be assembling in the name of the Lord to worship God Most High. Our task on that day will amount to one of two choices.

First, we are to come with a deep delight and satisfaction with the knowledge that God is God, and we aren’t. That He is the beginning and the end, the one who speaks and it comes to pass, who turns the hearts of kings, prime ministers and presidents whichever way He chooses, and who upholds the fallen, heals the broken, and restors life to the dead. That God is God and we aren’t should be sweet drink to our thirsty souls; a cool, refreshing breeze to tame our hot heads; a satisfying morsel to fill us full with everlasting delights! “O taste & see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man the trusts in Him” (Psalm 34.8)

The second honest, and godly, option is to come realizing that we DON’T possess this delight. That we are about to offer prayerless prayers and praisesless praises. And therefore we should  come trembling over the absence of this Godward delight! This shuddering recognition is pleasing to God, for He beautifies the humble with salvation; He is the One who revives the heart of the contrite ones. “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever” (Psalm73.26). “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in Him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6.56-57).

But to come into the worship of God without delight, or without fear over the lack of delight, is unthinkable! Any attempt on our part to worship God on our terms is insulting to Him and disastrous to us. So, if you love your own soul, do not even think of coming to worship God in a dull or haphazard way. As someone has said: Hell awaits the halfhearted.

Mike

Comments

Rip Van Winkle said…
Pastor Phillibir:

With respect-

Suppose I wait until I *feel* delighted to worship God.

In some seasons I might not have persevered the season itself had I not entered into worship considerably un-delighted week after week, day after day.

I must gratefully say that the Lord in his abundant mercy chose not to be "insulted" at my lack of delight, rather He patiently sloughed my dull heart until I began to sense the joy of my salvation once again.

In light of the path the Lord has walked me along, I would specifically encourage those without delight to enter into worship (corporately and individually) as a meager lifeline does seem to keep one tethered until the Lord can pull you back in.

Thank you for your post.
June 5, 2012 at 4:42 PM
mphilliber said…
Dear Rip, the point of the article is delight and honesty. Come either delighted, or come recognizing the lack of delight and imploring God to stir it in us. The third option - half-heartedness - the sloughing, slip-shod, content-to-not-care, is the danger.
June 5, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Rip Van Winkle said…
I appreciate your response (and I apologize for misspelling your name). Thank you.
June 6, 2012 at 2:17 PM
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