“Majesty
and honor march before him, Strength and gladness walk beside him. O
people of all nations of the earth, Ascribe great strength and glory to his
name! Yes,
ascribe to the Lord, The glory due his name! Bring an offering and come before
him; Worship the Lord when clothed with holiness!” (1 Chronicles 16:27-29, LB)
I
have stood in majestic cathedrals with stained glass filtering the light with
brilliant colors somehow dancing across the pews. I have wondered how the arches and beams
could hold up such massive expanses. In
these places my prayerful worship floated on the words spoken with feelings of
the wonder and awe of God.
I
have sat in humble prairie churches constructed with a sense of purpose yet
filled with honest hardworking folks gathered to simply give honor to the God
that saved them. In these places my worship
reflections were centered on the common thread of the amazing grace we have in
Christ.
I
have participated in joyful exuberant Spirit led services in many settings such
as homes, basements and old storefronts.
The surroundings were not even conducive to worship but the praise and
nourishment in these places left me longing and thirsting for more of God.
I
have been held speechless on mountain tops, pristine forests and even blooming
deserts as I pondered the beauty of Christ’s creative hand and steadfast
love. In these places my humble prayer
has been of thankfulness.
I
have walked in dark and desperate places with people, both physically and
spiritually, where sin and evil lurk to discredit, maim and destroy. In these places my faith is staggered at bit
and yet I cling to the Rock, trusting in the promises of the Word as I worship
Jesus Christ our Lord who will never abandon any of us.
Believers have worshiped in countless places with varying aspects of
surroundings, contexts and meanings in their travels and experiences. Others have worshiped in basically the
same place for their entire life. In all
of these places … each and every believer have been moved, touched and bought
to a deeper sense of their faith as they worshiped their Savior and sought His
presence.
Our
daily living elicits worship if we have a relationship with Jesus Christ and
yet something happens when we come together as believer’s joining in praise,
Word and worship. The body of Christ
meets together around the world in countless types of buildings and structures. The body of Christ meets in awful places,
wicked places and outdoor places and it meets in fancy places, common places
and dedicated places.
In
all of these places; articles, decorations and elements are chosen along with
faith as expressions to enhance the worship gathering. These enhancements whether simple or
elaborate, add to the worship experience of God. It is all given to the
One who created the earth with a fullness of beauty, color and magnificence in
purpose and design. The
beauty in creation was a gift of God to us. As we delight in that gift, we bring Him honor and
glory. We should come with a humble, joyful
and thankful heart wherever we worship but we should never be afraid to bring
beauty, color, elements and art to our worship of Him as
well. Our God brings beauty, color,
music, and fullness to our lives and thus it is not about where we worship but
who we worship. When we sense and see God around us and in our lives, we are
daunted by the majesty and love of God.
Worship is the declaration of that adoration and appreciation from the
deepest part of our hearts in countless ways and places as it mixes with a myriad of colors, decorations and art. Worship is not where, what or how ... It is simply our expression of praise
to our God. Let us worship Him.
Suggested
Reading … 1 Chronicles 16
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