At LifeQuest we've been examining Worship.  It has been a wonderful journey so far and we have discovered a lot about God, ourselves, and our relationship with Him.  One of the things we talked about is how, in the Scriptures, an encounter with God always resulted in Awe and Wonder.

Awe and Wonder.  We were made to experience Awe and Wonder.  Humans are the only ones on earth that can stand in awe and wonder amazed by a sunset over the Ocean or the snow on the peaks of a mountain range or the emotions stirred up by a beautiful piece of music.  We experience Awe and Wonder because God formed us to be in relationship with Him and to be able to experience His presence.  Awe and Wonder can produce some very meaningful moments in our lives.

So, in one of our services I asked the question, "Where do you go when you want to experience awe and wonder?"  There were a wide variety of answers.  Some said the beach.  Others said the mountains or the woods.  Some said a night with friends and others talked about family and watching little children experiencing life.  Some talked about the excitement of new adventures.  And the list went on for awhile.

But there was one thing that was not mentioned: Going to church.  Going to church to worship with others in the presence of God or even our own private time of worship never made the list.  Yet one of the primary purposes for coming together as a community is to experience God together which should include the Awe and Wonder of being in His presence.  Why is it that the church is not at the top of our list for being a main source of Awe and Wonder? 

Maybe it is because, for the vast majority of church services, awe and wonder is not something that is present or often experienced.  Maybe it is because our services are no longer about worship, but about routines and the fulfilling of an obligation and the meeting of our own needs (which can be very significant and very real).

Harsh words perhaps.  But maybe truer than we care to admit.  Why is my church experience not producing the awe and wonder that God has created me to experience?  Why do I habitually look elsewhere to fulfill that need in my life?

One answer may be the way we come to our corporate gatherings.  What is our reason for coming?  What is our attitude as we come together?  What are we looking for as we enter the service?

In 2 Samuel 24, David refuses to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing.  In Romans 12, Paul tells us to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices" as an act of worship.  We are encouraged in Hebrews 13 to offer to God our "sacrifice of praise."  Yet often our coming together has nothing to do with our desire to present or give God anything, but to see what we can receive from Him or from the service.  Matt Redman, in his book "The Unquenchable Worshipper", ask this question.  "When you come through the doors of the church, what are you bringing as your offering to God?  What are you going to sacrifice today?"

Good question isn't it?  Have you ever stopped to consider what you are bringing into the service?  What offering or sacrifice have you prepared as an act of worship?  How have you prepared your heart for an encounter with God, and for the willing sacrifice of worship that will be the result of such an encounter?

Maybe, just maybe, the Awe and Wonder of God's presence is missing in our corporate services because we have come to His Meeting Place with little or no offering prepared, and what we do present to Him is not our first or even our best effort.  ... ... ...  Something to think about the next time we enter the doors of our services and come together to meet in His presence.

I wish you God's Awe and Wonder for your life.

Bruce

Please login or register to add comments