Good morning. I pray that your heart is ready for worship this fine Lord’s Day! Many will come together in worship and in praise as we share with the Lord the joy that is within our hearts. Coming together in worship is nourishing and inspiring. However, I know that for some it is very challenging to get out of the house to come to worship, especially in the winter months. I am grateful for our live-stream abilities to bring worship to those who can’t join us in person. For the live-stream, the recent thoughts for the day, and much more useful information, please go to our website: https://newlifedaily.org/
For today’s thought of worship, I would like to suggest that you read and meditate upon the wonderful command for worship found in 1 Chronicles 16:23-34, which also describes the reason for our worship. The reason we worship is obvious: We serve a wonderful, fantastic, awesome God. He is worthy of our worship, and in fact, when our hearts are right, and in a proper relationship with Him, worship is as natural as breathing.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
In the midst of this proclamation of praise we read that we are to Ascribe to the Lord. This command means that we are to give to him all that He alone deserves. He alone is worthy of worship for His glory, for His strength, for His splendor, for His holiness.
The truth of God and His worthiness of worship is not confined to the human heart and spirit. The heavens join us in praise. The whole of creation exalts Him. All people of every language and every race are joined in the recognition of His glory.
Are these words pure hyperbole, or is it a reality that our worship is part of a greater chorus that includes the seas and all that is in them? I will take the scripture at its Word. I don’t know all of the ways in which God’s creation is able to express worship, but this passage is far from alone in stating that somehow such worship takes place.
Wherever you are today, join your heart of worship to the rest of creation. Worship the Lord in strength and withhold nothing from Him of which He is worthy. Worship Well!
Vern