11 June: Tuesday Refocus

“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” - Psalm 25:14

Fear may not seem like a solid foundation for friendship, but Scripture tells us: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

In the original Hebrew, this text reads, “The secret of the LORD is for those who fear him…” To be friends - to know him deeply, and intimately - is to rightly recognize, to stand in awe of who He is and what He has done. To see that, “Our God is in the heaven; he does all that he pleases.” Psalm 115:3

But this is not a one-way friendship: God makes known His covenant to those who fear Him. He makes known His heart and character, He makes Himself known.

Father, thank you for all the ways you have revealed yourself. May we see and fear you rightly, and walk closely with you, in Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

Romans 12

After years of reading definitions of worship by others, I have settled on a definition that has stolen the best parts of the definitions of others:

Worship is the right response, of our whole lives to God’s revelation of Himself.

Now, I say this is a definition stolen from lots of definitions, but in reality, we have all stolen our definition of worship from the Apostle Paul:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” (Romans 12:1, CSB)

Romans 12:1 shows us the rhythm of worship: God reveals, we respond.

Real worship, true worship, right worship always and only begins when God reveals Himself - when God acts first. Romans 12:1 is no different, showing us the rhythm of revelation and response. In this passage, God has revealed Himself as merciful. Certainly, we see this throughout the previous 11 chapters of Romans, but we also see this throughout the entirety of Scripture. In fact, when Moses asks to see God’s face, God allows His glory to pass before Moses (because no one can see His face and live), and God reveals something about Himself at that moment:

‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.’ (Exodus 36:6-7).

The second rhythm of worship we see in this passage is our response. The offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice. Not just our time or talent, but our very lives. This is not worship relegated to a Sunday service or a mid-week bible study, but an all-encompassing response to God that is evidenced by loving the

‘Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27)

For those of us who lead corporate sung worship, we have a responsibility to help people see that our songs of response are only that - a song of response. True worship is the right response of our how lives to God’s revelation of Himself, and there is no corner of our lives that God is not displaying some aspect of His heart, and character. Let’s be worship leaders who help people lead lives of worship, not just worship leaders who help lead songs of worship.

November 5: Tuesday Refocus

‘No one ever comes very close to God and remains proud.’ – Alan Nelson

‘Draw near,’ is the invitation James tells us is always met with God, in turn, drawing near (4:8).  As followers of Christ we can draw near with confidence (Heb 4:16).  But make no mistake this confidence is not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21).

As we draw near we find grace and mercy, yet still fall down as though dead (Heb 4:16, Rev 1:17).  Because no one ever draws near to God and remains proud.  But do not be afraid – His nearness is your good (Ps 73:28). 

‘When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’ – Revelation 1:17

Lord, You know the proud from afar, but regard the lowly.  Help us draw near with full confidence in the completed work of Christ.  Thank you for being Emmanuel, the God who is with us.  We are humbled and grateful, in Christ name, amen.

Draw near,

AB