Definitive Meaning of Worship

By the rivers of Babylon,
         There we sat down and wept,
         When we remembered Zion.
    Upon the willows in the midst of it
         We hung our harps.
    For there our captors demanded of us songs,
         And our tormentors mirth, saying,
         "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
    How can we sing the LORD'S song
         In a foreign land?
    If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
         May my right hand forget her skill.
    May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
         If I do not remember you,
         If I do not exalt Jerusalem
         Above my chief joy.


-Psalm 137


This is a definitive model of worship.  In this passage, these Israelite musicians were distraught not just at their captivity but at the thought of singing and playing for any other reason except for God and His Holy City.


They could not play for their captors - that would have been entertainment.  What they were about was worship....not entertainment.  True, Sincere, Honest worship of the only One who is worthy of it.


In your own heart, do you honestly view worship this way?  Or, are you more concerned about whether you like the music or the artist or the style you are hearing?  The former is about God.  The latter is about you.  If it is about you, it is not worship.


Prayer:  

"Abba Father, may I lose my voice if I don't use it to praise You.  In fact, I can think of nothing else I could ever do with my voice except to use it to praise You.  God, I want this to apply to my hands, feet, mind; my desires; my affections - EVERYTHING that I am.  If I cannot worship You, I will lay my harp on the willows - and my life on the alter - for I have no use for either."

How to Take up Your Cross

Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily...but what does that mean? It is often mischaracterized as meaning that each Christian will have his or her own unique burden to bear. Further, this line of argument seems to usually imply some sort of physical malady (thorn in our side) that we have to endure for the sake of Christ.


However, a careful reading shows this as a misinterpretation. The text does not say this and the context does not imply it.


Instead, it is Jesus teaching us how to live the LIFE He promised us while we are still on this earth. It is so simple that it is difficult for us to comprehend. It seems too easy.


The WHOLE key to living is this: Everyday, decide to trust Him instead of following the desires of the flesh. That's it. It's not about trying harder to do better or to do more. It's about trusting Him.


Warning: Your flesh will rebel against that notion and The Adversary will whisper lies about this saying "surely you must do.". Satan may even quote Scripture to you, "faith without works is dead."


Yes. But your job is the faith (which comes first). God's job is the works. Trust God first and the result will always be good and perfect works. Works not preceded by trust in God is nothing more than us striving to do it on our own. That is called religion.


Everyday, before anything else, trust Him to work through your life. Everyday. Before your family, friends, ambition, insecurities, plans - first take up your cross that was borne by Him and simply trust Him. Deny self and everything and everyone else and trust Him first and only.
Matthew 16, Matthew 10, Luke 14

Serious Question Part 2

The reason Christ Followers can't really be close to and real with one another is because we know we'll be betrayed.  We know it because it has happened to us in the past.  Most of the time in relationships someone comes out on the short end of the stick.

What we've missed is the whole point.  Vulnerability and realness in relationships implies that there is a risk.  The risk is getting hurt.  Otherwise there would be nothing vulnerable about being vulnerable.

Jesus knows this.  He also knows that it is worth the risk.  What is gained when there really is a connection between God's kids far outweighs the temporal hurt and confusion that comes through betrayal.  Even when betrayal is the norm and connection is the exception.

That's why He tells us to "love one another as yourself" and to "share everything in common" and to "confess to one another" and to "defend each other."  That's why He did all these things Himself, with a bunch of guys He knew would betray Him.  

Now, the serious question is this:

Do you trust Him enough to be vulnerable with other believers - over and over again - knowing that the outcome will most often hurt?

I'll be honest, that is a hard question for me to answer. But, He's never failed me before.