Worshipers The Father Desires

Chuckle: Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were playing golf. One remarked, "Windy, isn't it?" "No," the second man replied, "it's Thursday." And the third man chimed in, "So am I. Let's go have something to drink."

Quote: “I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.” --Henry Ward Beecher

WORSHIPERS THE FATHER DESIRES

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks" (John 4:23 NIV).

Have you given much thought to the question: why is God so interested in receiving our worship? Why does God's Word have so much to say to us on the subject of worship? When I think about these questions, I'm taken back to the Garden of Eden and the creation. The Bible tells us that God created us male and female in the spiritual image of Himself. He made us as spiritual beings with the capability to respond in love to His love for us -- our spirit connecting with His Spirit. From the beginning, it has been God's desire that we love Him. Jesus gave us the great commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30 NIV).

God is Spirit and this means he is not a physical being limited to one place or one time. He is timeless and present everywhere, and this makes it possible for us to worship Him anywhere. It is not where you worship that is all important but how you worship. The location of your private worship or public worship with your church family is not nearly as important as your attitude in worship. The Father seeks genuine worshipers that involves our spirit connecting with His Spirit in love, reverence, adoration, and submission. He wants us to worship Him out of love as we respond to His great love and amazing grace.

When we assemble for worship with our church families, it's essential that our attention be focused exclusively on the One we have come to worship. This means not letting our minds wander to other things, but keeping ourselves attentive only to hearing God speak to us and responding to His presence with love, repentance, prayers, and songs of praise. For our worship to be pleasing to God, we must focus our attention on Him and the great command by loving Him with all our being, holding nothing back.

"Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. Therefore, when Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, 'All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain.' The example of godly leaders is helpful, but only the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion."

Love, Jerry & Dotse