An Invitation to Worship

ken campaign millennnials (2)What I am anticipating as my final campaign is over. I am pleased with an election victory and look forward to serving on the Fort Collins City Council. A new challenge and opportunity to the next step in my recovery. Within 24 hours of polls closing signs are down and life is beginning to return to normal. Except now, I begin my orientation to a new role of public service. I was honored to have youth represented in my campaign. Ryan Hanson, works in Senator Cory Gardner’s Fort Collins office and Juan Caro is a student at CSU.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Oh come, let us sing to the Lordlet us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3 ESV

In the psalms we find expressions of praise to the Lord, admonitions to praise the Lord, descriptions on how to praise the Lord, and the reason for our worship.

This psalm begins with an invitation to worship. It begins with the simple, “Come, let us sing to the Lord.” There is a dynamic that takes place in corporate praise that is not found in personal, private praise to the Lord. Both are important and not to be neglected. But each is different.

Corporate praise encourage us to enter in, to participate as a congregation of those whose hearts are focused on the Lord. What we find in corporate worship, is that regardless of our level of participation, the environment of worship can touch our lives and be a source of strength and encouragement.

Next we see how we are to praise the Lord. Quiet is appropriate and good at times. There are times of reflection, but here we see it is a call to be engaged and involved in expressing praise to God.

“Let us sing…Let us make a joyful noise….Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving….” These are all expressions that reveal a heart that is full and grateful.

Then we see the motivation behind the invitation and the exuberant expression of worship. Notice, the Lord is described as “the rock of our salvation.” He is “a great God.” He is a “great King above all gods.”

He is the foundation upon which we stand and He is the ruler over all. He is the One is above all others. As God’s people encountered daily the false gods and idols of the land, they were to be reminded that they are only wood and stone, the images made by human hands. When we worship, we know that there is none higher, there is none grater, there is none more holy.

This psalm also brings into focus our relationship with this great God and King over all.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psalm 95:6,7 ESV)

Our God and our Maker is the One who cares for us and watches over us. That should cause us to sing and shout!

Prayer for today…. Lord, we give you the praise that You alone deserve. Help us to be reminded of Your greatness in the midst of our need.  Remind us of Your abundant supply, in our awareness of our insufficiency and Your care in the midst of our pain and suffering. As we focus on You in praise, we understand both who You are and who we are in relationship with You.