Good morning. Most of you who read these daily thoughts are Minnesotans. Not all, but most. One of the joys of being Minnesotan, and some say it is due to Germanic and Nordic cultural heritage, is that we often are a bit…reserved. Things can get going pretty loud and wild at a Vikings game, and I remember the decibel meters at the old Metrodome going off the charts when the Twins were in the World Series. But for the most part, Minnesotans are known to be a bit stodgier when it comes to excitement.
This situation has long been noted as a “normal” condition when Minnesotans worship. It isn’t that we don’t enjoy worship. It isn’t that we don’t believe that our Almighty God is worthy of bold worship. It’s just that we tend to be a little more reserved when it comes to getting excited, clapping our hands, shouting out praise, and so on.
I read a quote about worship recently about worship which I believe to be extremely true and relevant.
It’s God’s will that we become true worshipers. And when something is God’s will, he will move heaven and earth to help us do that thing. He wants us as close to him as we can possibly be. He longs to open the windows of heaven and pour out more and more of his love on us. Our only job is to surrender to him on a daily basis so that he can daily give us more of himself. But the Lord is such a gentleman, he will never force us to do anything. He leaves the act of surrendering up to us. And that’s where it has to start. – CeCe Winans
We read in John 12:1-3 of an episode which began the week which led to Calvary’s cross: Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.Then Mary took about a pintof pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
This act of worship was clearly “over the top”. Judas complained at the extravagance of it. Jesus, however, defended it as completely appropriate. True worship has every right to be extravagant from time to time.
I long to worship Jesus as did Mary with her jar of perfume! Excessive, abundant, expensive, superfluous, lavish, costly, rich, priceless, valuable…extravagant worship!
Worship well today my friends and consider what it would be like to hold nothing back.
Vern