Worship's Backbone.

Friday, April 15, 2011
Worship’s Backbone. Last night I got the awesome opportunity to hear Mercy Me live in concert at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock. I love the way God has used, and is using, such an awesome band as they write and perform songs that point people directly to Him. It’s an awesome thing to gather together with thousands of other believers, 99% of which you don’t know though they’re your brothers and sisters in Christ, and worship together for 3 hours straight. God was present in a huge way.
Bart Millard, the lead singer for Mercy Me, said something that really stuck with me last night, and I’d be amiss if I didn’t share it this morning. He’s a father of 5 kids. He shared that if you were to ask his 5 year old, “Why do you love your mommy?” he would probably tell you it’s because she makes his peanut butter sandwiches. But in 20 years if you were to ask him the same question, he hopes that by then his answer would simply be, “Because she’s mom.” The answer and motivation for love changes as maturity grows.
How many of us, when asked, “Why do you love God?” answer by listing all of the things He has done for us…? “I love God because: He saved me; He healed me; He empowered me; He DID this…” In other words, we love Him because He makes our peanut butter sandwich, right? Bart said a few very powerful words at this point in his story: “That’s a very childish, immature view of love, and especially of God. Worshiping the gift instead of the Giver of the gift is still idolatry, and that’s still sin.” Wow. Did you get that?
I want to be able to worship God not because of all that He’s done, but simply because He is God. I want to pour out my praises at His alter because of Who He is, not what He has to offer me. I don’t want to worship with strings attached, hoping to win His favor so I can get more stuff. Worship isn’t a tool to try and squeeze more goodies from the “big Man upstairs.” Worship is pure adoration of God simply because He IS. Well, that’s the worship He desires anyway.
The truth is, God is deserving of worship when things are great and when things are tough. We were reminded last night that God is glorious and worthy to be praised no matter what. He deserves our worship when the healing comes, but also when the cancer doesn't get healed like we asked. He deserves our worship when loved ones astray come home, but also when they don't make the choice to come back to us like we've begged Him for. He deserves worship when we are at the peak of the mountaintop, and when we are in the depths of the darkest, deepest valley we'd ever imagined being in. He deserves glory and praise simply because He IS.
So think about it today: how often do you worship God because of what He’s done? How often do you find yourself striving to somehow pay Him back for all the blessings He’s poured out upon your life, when what He really wants is worship simply because He IS? Today, I challenge you to take a moment and admit to Him why you’ve worshipped in the past. Join me in asking Him to grow us up to the point of desiring to worship Him simply because He IS who He IS.
God is good. God is faithful. God is just. God is holy. God is indescribable. But more than anything else, God is God. And that’s more than enough for me.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
If you’d like to receive “A Thought From Blake” in your email inbox every day, email Blake at the address below!
Feel free to write blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com