4. I will pray that I will be a worshipper instead of a judge.
Too many times we leave a corporate worship service as if we just judged an Olympic event. We might give the pastor a “7” for the sermon, or the worship leader a “6” for the music. And we might give other worshippers a low “3” because they would not move to the middle of the pews to let us in more easily.
When we leave with such judgmental perceptions, we have not worshipped God. Instead, we have attended an event to entertain us. We must pray that we will worship God instead of judging aspects of the corporate worship services. We must pray for a focus on Him instead of a focus on others.
It’s both a sad and amazing reality. Many of our congregations consider church members to be in good standing if they only attend twice a month, or once a month, or hardly ever. In just a few short decades, commitment levels to corporate worship have declined precipitously.
It is time for a corporate worship revolution. It’s time to make that moment of gathered believers a priority in our lives. It’s time to stop making worship attendance an optional activity.
It’s time to ask God to get our hearts right so we desire to worship Him in a corporate setting, not because we have some legalistic obligation to do so. It’s time to urge others in the congregation to make corporate worship a priority. It is truly time for a corporate worship revolution.
Will you join me and millions of others in this revolution? Will you make this time a priority in your life? May we shout our commitment with God-given zeal and sincerity.
I will worship with others.
This is an excerpt from I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian by Thom S. Rainer (B&H Publishing Group). Used by permission.
