(Road Repair concluded)
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
The final thing I’d like to discuss (though certainly not the final word on the subject) about road repair, about making the path straight, is worship.
Although this could be worded in many ways, and one could come up with another number; church exists for three basic purposes:
- To bring people to Christ
- To disciple believers
- To worship God
The first two are directed, commanded, by Jesus. These are two of the basic purposes of the church, each local church, the community churches, and the worldwide church. And they are two of the basic purposes for the lives of each individual believer.
Critical to the life of each believer, in and out of church, and the primary purpose for gathering in church is worship.
This is why Satan tried all he could to get Jesus to worship him; if worship is deflected from God, all else goes awry.
Worship, true worship, transcends everything else, all traditions, all rules, everything. As God said to Isaiah and Jesus repeated to church people; “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15:19)
Worship, true worship, transcends everything else, everything we say and sing and repeat and read; it must come from and go to a deeper place than the flesh can take us. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)
Worship, true worship, must come from and go to a deeper place than the flesh can take us. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” True worship changes who we are; “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” True worship is the path to His path for us. “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-3)
Worship will be central to our eternity, as John saw; Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. (Revelation 4:9-10)
Worship takes place in grand cathedrals and little country churches; in living rooms and in alleys. It happens with organs and praise bands and with no instruments at all. It can be loud and it can be silent. Worship happens in Manhattan and Mumbai, on the beach and in the desert. It is protected by some governments and prohibited by others. Worshipers have been lifted up as community leaders and lifted up on crosses.
Worship, true worship, transcends everything else, everything we say and sing and repeat and read, it must come from and go to a deeper place than the flesh can take us. True worship changes who we are. True worship is the path to His path for us; it prepares the way for Him to us, it makes the path straight.
Is this what worship is for you? Is this what worship does for you? May it be so.
I pray your hour of worship tomorrow is this kind of worship; and I pray that one hour tomorrow morning is not your only time of worship for the week to come.
Until Monday, peace be with you, Pastor Jim
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