Prodigal children
Prodigal children
When we worship, we are beginning a walk home to God. Back from our everyday existence into the Holy of Holies. As we begin this journey, we sense an inner change, a shift from our world view to God's. Perhaps, like the prodigal, we sense how worthless all our efforts have been, and how we have ignored the centre of our lives - our relationship with Him.
When we return, we know that "he delights in us, and rejoices over us with singing", much as the prodigal's father did when his son returned. Worshippers feel an abandon to God, a sense of nothing but "you and Jesus", where our inner man is strengthened, and we have a deep sense and knowledge of God's overwhelming joy for us.
Songs are signposts (or singposts?) along the way, and the lyrics are instructions to our heart on how to get there. We are all prodigal sons and daughters, squandering much of our time in the world, and when we worship, we are coming to our senses, running back to the father heart of God, and embracing him. Worship is a deep embrace between Jesus and us. It is a returning. A re-union.
"As the deer pants for the water" : He has tasted the water, and knows it to be good, knows its refreshment and its life. The longing is there for something that is known to be good, something to return to. In truth, our souls are always longing for this. How long will we remain away from his presence? We need to go to him, make the journey through worship, and drink deep from his love and provision for us.
And the father's response? He kills the prize lamb for us. The precious lamb of God that "takes away the sin of the world". It is his offering of welcome, and of celebration. It is a promise of forgiveness, and acceptance. Acts 2 - 39 "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
When we worship, we are beginning a walk home to God. Back from our everyday existence into the Holy of Holies. As we begin this journey, we sense an inner change, a shift from our world view to God's. Perhaps, like the prodigal, we sense how worthless all our efforts have been, and how we have ignored the centre of our lives - our relationship with Him.
When we return, we know that "he delights in us, and rejoices over us with singing", much as the prodigal's father did when his son returned. Worshippers feel an abandon to God, a sense of nothing but "you and Jesus", where our inner man is strengthened, and we have a deep sense and knowledge of God's overwhelming joy for us.
Songs are signposts (or singposts?) along the way, and the lyrics are instructions to our heart on how to get there. We are all prodigal sons and daughters, squandering much of our time in the world, and when we worship, we are coming to our senses, running back to the father heart of God, and embracing him. Worship is a deep embrace between Jesus and us. It is a returning. A re-union.
"As the deer pants for the water" : He has tasted the water, and knows it to be good, knows its refreshment and its life. The longing is there for something that is known to be good, something to return to. In truth, our souls are always longing for this. How long will we remain away from his presence? We need to go to him, make the journey through worship, and drink deep from his love and provision for us.
And the father's response? He kills the prize lamb for us. The precious lamb of God that "takes away the sin of the world". It is his offering of welcome, and of celebration. It is a promise of forgiveness, and acceptance. Acts 2 - 39 "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
posted by Squire at 7:34 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home