Part-time Praiser

Is that you? Are you a part-time praiser. Is praise merely singing songs? If I could change church I would change the music portion of service from “praise and worship time” to…well…the music portion of our praise and worship service. Praise and worship time in almost every church in America must include and in most cases, is exclusively music. That’s sad.

So Bro Dave are you saying you don’t like the music portion of church services? Not at all! I lift my hands in worship and sing loud (to the detriment of those near me!) when singing hymns and modern songs. I love music.

What I am saying is that we don’t know what real praise and worship is. I’m still learning! Allow me a series of questions…

Did you go to church yesterday? Why?

Because it was Sunday?

Did you go to be blessed?

Did you go to be encouraged?

Did you go to be challenged (very unlikely for most)?

Did you go because of the music?

Did you go because of the pastor?

Did you go because of the fellowship?

Did you go because you are a worker?

Okay, now I’m really confused Bro Dave, are you saying these are bad reasons for going to church? Actually, yes I am. These should be the results of going to church, not the reasons you go. Plain and simple you should go to church to bring your sacrifice of praise to the Lord, to glorify Him.

How many of us go to church to bless God? Do you go to church because you want to bring a blessing to Jesus?

Well, I…it’s okay…you’ve just grown up in the consumer-driven society that long overtook America and like yeast has worked its way into every nook and cranny of church.

Beloved everything we do should be driven by our desire to glorify God and bless Him. That was what drove David to church.

    “My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.” (Psalm 26:12)

We are in the Christmas season where we celebrate the birth of Christ but our victory over death was won at His resurrection. And we rightly celebrate the birth of the God-man Jesus because without His birth He could not die, and if He did not die He could not be resurrected and defeat the sting of death. That is worthy of our praise!

    “The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.” (Psalm 18:46)

Herein lies the reason we worship the Lord and why He is worthy of our constant praise. Last evening I was talking with my youngest sister Theresa and she shared with me that she has come to a point in her life that she realizes all she has and is comes from the Lord. She says she is in a constant state of praise. She is standing on solid ground:

    “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)

Even though we have the freedom to worship or not worship God, we really have no choice in that if we seek God’s face and His blessing on our lives and this land, then He must be exalted and receive all glory and honor.

    “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.” (Psalm 57:5)

For most of you it is Monday morning (heavy sigh) and you’re headed to work (heavier sigh) and no doubt you face great challenges today (near despair!).

Might I help you with this? As you drag your lunch pail behind you, shoulders slumped forward, head leaning into the wind, could, even if you don’t mean it, thank God for your job?

Who knows, that thankfulness might actually become real and turn into praise, and even more spectacular, it might even turn into worship.

And craziest of all, you might even give God all the glory for all you are and all you have.

You know Jesus is worthy of more than just your part-time praise.

His praise should continually be in our mouths.

Have a blessed Monday!

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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