be worshipful - bubba garner

Be Worshipful

by Bubba Garner
Southside Church of Christ
Pasadena, Texas

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord,’” wrote David in Psalm 122:1. How many people had those words or a similar thought run through their minds this morning? It seems that we are losing our sense of delight and enthusiasm when it comes to worship. We think more about we should be getting than what we’re giving to God. But we owe it to the Lord and to ourselves to offer our very best on His day.

How can you do your part to be worshipful?

Be here. There is no way that you can benefit or be benefited if you choose not to come. And it amazes me what flimsy excuses people come up with for why they can’t come to the services. Please tell me, what could you possibly be doing that is more important than worshiping God? When we allow other things to interfere with our devotion to Him, we reduce religion to a matter of convenience instead of conviction.

Be prepared. This speaks not only of the need to prepare your lesson for Bible class, but to prepare your mind. And if you wait until the song before the Lord’s Supper to prepare, you’ve waited too long. David said that the one who is worthy to come before God is one who “walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:2). Those qualities do not come about without prior meditation, reflection, and consideration. It takes time to be holy, to be prepared. Perhaps that means, perish the thought, that to be ready on Sunday you might need to cut Saturday night a little shorter.

Be reverent. Remember what you’re doing. This is not a football game or a movie. This is a worship service. We are communing with the God of heaven. Does He not deserve our utmost respect and admiration? “Let us show gratitude, by which we offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Heb. 12:28). Sometimes that means you stand in awe of Him. But other times it means you bow down in reverence.

Be a participant. Nothing is more discouraging to the song leader than one who does not sing and to the preacher than one who does not listen. But how do you think the Lord feels about it? “I will gave thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company of the upright and in the assembly” (Psa. 111:1). Whole-hearted worship means giving it your all and making every effort to be an active participant in the services. Just because you are not the one leading the singing, saying the prayers, or doing the preaching does not mean your duties are relinquished. Be in tune with what is going on.

You will get no more out of today than what you put into it. Give the Lord your best and receive the best of what worship can do for you.