Jump Start # 4072
Psalm 34:3 “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
Growing up, we had a neighborhood friend named Gordon. He was my little brother’s age. He always came to our birthday parties. He often would bring one of his old toys from home, some even had his name written on the bottom, and that’s what he would give. It wasn’t that his family was poor. That’s just the way Gordon was. He’d get new toys for himself and when he was tired of the old ones they became birthday presents to my brother.
Ancient Israel had a similar problem. God wanted the best of the lambs and the first fruits of their harvest. But often the nation of God gave the leftovers that no one wanted. The diseased and crippled lambs were offered in Malachi’s day. In Isaiah’s time, the purpose and motive behind the offerings was missing. And, God was fed up with them.
Notice some of the laments flowing out of the early chapter of Isaiah:
· I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams (1:11)
· I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats (1:11)
· Bring your worthless offerings no longer (1:13)
· Incense is an abomination to Me (1:13)
· I hate your new moon festivals (1:14)
· I am weary of bearing them (1:14)
· When you pray, I will hide My eyes from you…I will not listen (1:15)
Like our old neighborhood friend, our worship, rather than pleasing the Lord, can insult and shame Him, because we have failed to bring the best. Excellence in worship ought to be foremost in our hearts. Bringing the best to the Lord, who has always given us the best, is what we need to do.
But there have been times when most of us could admit that we failed to bring God our best. We were sleepy during worship and didn’t get much nor put much into that service. There were times when because of worry, stress and coming events, we didn’t focus like we should have. There have been times when we gave the Lord our leftovers. Been there. Done that. Got a closet full of those T-shirts.
But, what do we do? Here are a few suggestions:
First, that type of worship ought to bother us. Reflecting back, we know we could have done better. Our worship is not defined by what others do. Maybe the song leader fumbled. Maybe the preaching was boring. Maybe the prayers were stale and lifeless. My worship does not depend upon others. When I have given God the leftovers, I need to feel bad. If I don’t, that’s a greater problem.
Second, ask the Lord to forgive you for not bringing your best. You know. He knows. So, strive to do better this next worship. Learn from your mistakes. Get to bed earlier so you won’t be so sleepy. Leave the troubles of the world behind you.
Third, make adjustments for the next worship. Try sitting in a different place. Try reading a few verses before you come. Try to lay aside the hectic things running through your mind and be thankful. Our verse today reminds us that our attention and focus ought to be on the Lord. Magnify the Lord. Don’t magnify your troubles. Don’t magnify yourself. The attention is upon the Lord.
Fourth, your best is all that you can give the Lord. Your best might be better than my best, but my best is all I can give the Lord. Don’t measure yourself with others. Focus. Pray. Praise.
Worship does something to the Lord and worship does something to us. And, your worship does something to others. They notice. They catch on quickly by watching you.
Leftovers or bringing the best? You know what the right choice is.
Roger