I was enjoying singing with others during the worship service. Then a woman sang a solo. I don’t recall the song. But I do remember thinking: boring lyrics! Predictable religious clichés! Ah, just give me good old, Christian easy-listening music. (I confess my inappropriate sarcasm and snarkiness.)
The woman finished and sat down to appreciative applause. Then the worship leader said with deep emotion, “That song never fails to speak to my heart. Thank you so much!”
Ouch! By making the worship service about me, I had forgotten that I was supposed to be praising God with other believers—a fantastic privilege! By giving my personal preference the place of honour, I had made an idol of it. I had lost my focus—or rather, I had misdirected it onto myself.
At a well in Samaria 2,000 years ago, a woman, no doubt feeling uncomfortable as Jesus put the focus on her (“You have had five husbands . . .” John 4:18), diverted the subject from her lifestyle by asking a divisive religious and political question: “Why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship?” (John 4:20).
Jesus deftly directed the worship focus to His heavenly Father: “Dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem” (John 4:21). He continued, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). When the woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming,” Jesus brought the focus full circle: “I AM the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26).
My guess is that as the woman ran into town to tell everyone about this Man she had just met, she also had a new reason to worship. And that worship had the right focus.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 22:1-14
More:
For other glimpses of people worshipping Jesus, look at Matthew 2:9-11, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 18:35-42 and John 9:35-38.
Next:
How can we worship God throughout the day? How can we be less self-absorbed and more aware of Him and His love for us?
GChoo on September 3, 2014 at 5:11 am
Tim, thank you for the reminder. You are not the only one. I was once like you moaning about worship songs I didn’t like and the tempo of some being slow and boring.
I must say ever since joining my present church, our minister had stressed the importance of worshipping God in spirit and truth. It has helped me and many others to focus on God alone. At the same time, I am being spiritually inspired and refreshed by Him through worship. I can start my week knowing God is there with me all the way whatever we are facing or going to face.
Yes, we can still worship God during the week by praising Him while we are on the way to work, doing our house chores etc. Hallelujah, praise our Lord!
tgustafs on September 3, 2014 at 8:04 am
Thanks, GChoo. I hope I never forget this lesson. We are all different, and we all show up to church in different frames of mind. But once there, we can be united in our praise to God. I can’t do that if I am obsessing about my personal preferences or particular mood that day.
jenleaakins on September 3, 2014 at 3:12 pm
You must have been at my church this weekend!!!!
We had someone sing a solo to an “old school” gospel hymn and it was comical, in a way, but the seniors singing got into it. The solo singer kept breathing in between singing, and that made it more funny…
I think the congregation reacted much in the same way, of embarrassment and amusment, but when they made it through, everyone like it. They applauded as well, and the music leader said: “That was fun! I love those old hymns. They really speak to me.”
Yes, we were a bit embarrassed, but what made me happy was knowing I attend a church not afraid to “go there” and look (or sound) funny but instead just go for it and praise God anyway. It was refreshing.
Tom Felten on September 4, 2014 at 9:53 am
jenleaakins, I’m so glad you shared this story. It brought a smile to my face. Yes, we should pursue doing all things—including music—with excellence to honor our great God. But different worship styles and ways will bless others even when we don’t get it. Thanks for the reminder!