READING: Isaiah 49-52, Psalm 69, 1 Corinthians 14
Sometimes I wonder if we give sufficient energy and time to evaluate what we include in our church worship services. The elements of the service are only loosely connected, and there is no real sense of direction and purpose to that service. Worship seems to be at times more about what we get out of it than about our giving ourselves to God and humbly honoring Him as we serve others. And, we then often divide over our worship style preferences as if they were the eternal standard God has given—and our arguing over our preferences leads to division in the church.
How different that is from Paul’s description of worship in 1 Corinthians 14. Specifically, he noted elements included in the Corinthians’ worship, taught particularly about tongues and prophecy, and called the believers to do everything in worship in order to build up others. In fact, this focus on building up others is apparent throughout this section of 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 14:3-5, 12, 17, 26, 31).
God who gave Himself for us calls us to give ourselves for others even as we gather to worship. After all, worship is not about us in the first place.
PRAYER: “Lord, I want to edify others even with the way we worship. Help me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 53-55, Psalm 128, 1 Corinthians 15
