Worship--the Body Gathers
Scripture Reading — Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6
Have you ever wanted to tell some people what you really thought of them? At some point in our lives, most of us have wanted to do that or have actually done it. Unfortunately, when we're in that frame of mind, our thoughts or words are not usually full of compliments.
Worship is just the opposite. When followers of Christ worship, they do so out of a desire to tell God what they think of him. Worship is a compliment. It is telling God what we think he is worth. As the body of Christ gathers in worship, God hears the voices of his people, proclaiming his greatness and glory.
Too often, though, we act as if worship is for us. But worship is our opportunity to adore and thank God, to confess that we are not worthy to be in his presence, and to share with God our dependence on him and our gratitude for his provision in our lives.
The psalmist describes the church as a flock of sheep. Sheep are totally dependent on their shepherd. Sheep can take no pride in their own accomplishments. They can only express appreciation for the shepherd.
When you and I worship, we are like sheep. In the end, all we can do is kneel before the great shepherd and give him our thanks and praise--our worship.
In worship we call to mind our great need--and God's phenomenal grace.
Great Shepherd of your sheep, we worship you. We honor you, for you are worthy of all glory, praise, and adoration. May your name be glorified today. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
About the author — Jerry Dykstra
Pastor Jerry Dykstra was recently appointed as the executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. After a 15-year career in business, he trained for pastoral ministry and served as the pastor of Cascade Fellowship CRC, Cascade, Michigan, and Faith Christian Fellowship CRC, Walnut Creek, California. He and his wife, Linda, live in Byron Center, Michigan, and have three children and seven grandchildren.
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