Unfathomable Grace

When we speak of worship, we often think of corporate worship. This is that special activity we practice on Sunday at a specific time and in a certain location. To assist us in our Sunday services, we have made much of worship houses, worship books, worship furniture, worship clothing, worship leaders and their teams. In our Presbyterian tradition, we make even more of this special hour. In our circles much is said of the “Regulative Principle of Worship” the “Order of Worship,” and we even have a Directory of Worship to give us insight and guidance in how our more-ancient fathers organized their services. Yes, in our current vernacular, when we speak of worship, we are most likely thinking of that which happens on Sunday morning at church.

Friends, I am convinced corporate worship is biblical and beneficial. We should gather more and not less with our Christian families. These set-aside times should be treated with more seriousness and not less. And there is nothing wrong with our Spirit-led services being prioritized, intentional, planned, and ordered. Let’s gather to focus, fellowship, eat, drink, wash, read, study, and sing more often. The chief end of man is go enjoy glorifying God.

However, as important and blessed as Sunday worship is, I am convinced Sunday worship is not more important than Monday worship. Scripture tell us to …

• Worship God with all our hearts, souls, mind and strength.
• Be living and holy sacrifices.
• Glorify God whether we eat, drink, or anything else we might do.
• Pray and commune with God without ceasing.
• Meditate on God’s Word at all times — at home, at the door, at the gate, and all along the way.
• Learn from the Apostolic Fathers and gather daily for the Word, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.
• See ourselves as God’s Temple; we are the holy place of worship in which God’s glory dwells.
• Understand our calling to be priests and ministers encouraging others to worship.
• See all our days are holy days.

There are seven days each week, and we are to worship throughout each of them.

And, as important and blessed as Sunday worship is, I am convinced the Bible speaks more of our everyday worship than it does of our Sunday ceremonialism. Scripture ….

• Discounts the external ceremonialism of the Jews’ uninspired traditions.
• Abrogates the external ceremonialism of Moses’ inspired Ceremonial Law.
• Records the simple worship in households as the norm in her New Covenant history.
• Promotes practical everyday adoration at the conclusion of each New Covenant Epistle and Letter.

God does not so much tell us how to go to church, or how to do church, as much as he tells us how to live as the church.

Therefore, I am convinced what we do today is every bit as important as what we do on Sunday, and we need to take today more seriously. This came to mind as I read 2 Timothy 2 this morning.

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” ²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ²² So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵correcting his opponents with gentleness …. (2 Timothy 2:19-25)

It is Wednesday, and …

• We belong to the Lord; the Lord knows us.
• We get to worship by seriously departing from iniquity.
• We get to worship by being the Lord’s vessels set aside for his honorable use.
• We get to worship by cleansing ourselves from what is dishonorable.
• We get to worship by seeing the Master utilize us in his good work.
• We get to worship by fleeing sinful thoughts and situations.
• We get to worship by praying, being filled with the Spirit, and enjoying his faith, love, and peace.
• We get to worship by calling on the Lord with our graciously purified pure hearts.
• We get to worship by conversing graciously to all — both in person and via social media.
• We get to worship by suffering — patiently enduring evil.

Yes, Sunday is a big deal, but so is today. Why are we so much like the Pharisees — consumed with the external show and so satisfied with internal gunk? Why are we so much more godly and serious in handling the Bible and the sermon at church than we are with our computer and posts on the sofa? Why are we so careful with Sunday church conversations when we are so half-hazard and evil with our words to our wives and children on Monday? Why do we show more grace to troubled sinners who comes to the church service than we do to those who live, vote, and protest in the neighborhood? Why do we pray more on Sunday morning than any other hour of the week? Why do we have to go searching to find our Bibles on Sunday morning; didn’t we read it several times on Saturday? And why in the world do we wait until Sunday to confess our sins, preach the Gospel to ourselves, find fresh experiential cleansing from guilt, and then sing like untamed Davids? Shouldn’t we be gracing ourselves with God’s Gospel each and every hour of the day.

Yes, Sunday worship is important, but our worship today is more important. O Christian friends, don’t wait until Sunday. Seize the day!