Letter To Our Children
by Pastor Joe | March 9, 2022 | Letters To Our Children
March 9, 2022
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness
Hello Friends!
If someone asks, “what’s the most important thing you do?” What do you think would be your answer? What if the same person asked, “what’s the most important thing you do as a Christian?”
As human beings, we usually make time for what is important to us. There is nothing more important in life than the worship of God— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
How
Martin Luther had a barber. His name was Peter Beskendorf. Once Master Peter took the liberty of asking his world-famous customer and Doctor of Theology, "Dr. Luther, how do you pray?" And Martin Luther answered by writing him a 40-page letter. It was published in the spring of 1535 under the title A Simple Way to Pray for a Good Friend.
I read it and it made me think about worship.
A good and clever barber must have his thoughts, mind, and eyes concentrated upon the razor and the beard and not forget where he is in his stroke and shave. If he keeps talking or looking around or thinking of something else, he is likely to cut a man's mouth or nose - or even his throat. Anything to be done well ought to occupy the whole person with all his faculties and members.
Worship runs in the same direction. Anything to be done well ought to occupy the whole person. Every bit of us is involved.
What
A basic understanding of what Christian worship is would be something like this. Worship is a growing awareness of all that God is, His greatness, His goodness, His power, His love, etc., and then responding rightly with everything we are. The word worship in the ancient world meant to bow down and kiss the feet or the ground around the one who is superior to you. In worship, we show how much God is worth to us.
Why
Here is something my wife and I taught our children from a children’s Question and Answer book that helped us understand why God is to be worshipped.
1. Who made you?
A. God. (Genesis 1:27)
2. What else did God make?
A. God made all things. (Ephesians 3:9)
3. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For His own glory. (Ephesians 1:12)
4. How can you glorify (worship) God?
A. By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalm 96)
5. Why ought you to glorify (worship) God?
A. Because He made me and takes care of me. (Revelation 15:4, Acts 4:17)
You see, the worship of God makes complete sense. Everything we have, every day and for all eternity, comes from God. Worshipping God means we know this because we have been taught this; and are responding the right way because of this.
The right way—because we can’t decide to worship God any way we like. We need His Spirit to change us and His word to teach us. Therefore, the worship that pleases God comes from a new heart that sees and loves Him as He truly is. And this is only possible by the saving work of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and ties itself to Gospel truth.
We behold God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). (Another why to worship God!)
Let’s
It has been said worship is duty and delight. It is personal and congregational (our church gatherings.) It is a moment in time. It is every moment in time and will continue past time into eternity.
And don’t think this is all on you. Only the Holy Spirit can initiate and keep our worship going. Behind every condition, physical or spiritual, the Lord’s creative power is at work and not ours. So apart from Him, not only would there be no worshipping believers and no alive worshipping churches, but there would also be no believers and churches at all. (Acts 2:47)
May these truths on the worship of God excite you, comfort you, direct you, and yes, make you sing! May they move back and forth from your head to your heart. May they lickety-split, change the way you think and live. To the praise of His glorious grace.
May God bless us this week and let’s get together this Sunday morning to worship Him.
You are deeply loved.
Pastor Joe