Jump Start # 1099
Luke 1:8-9 “Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.”
Our verse today is about Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. It was while he was in the temple serving God that an angel appeared and told him about the coming birth of John. There are two expressions in our verse that draws our attention. First, there was an “appointed order of his division.” During the days of David the priests were divided into groups or divisions. There were 24 divisions. The second interesting thought is “he was chosen by lot.” One of the duties of the high priest was to select which priest would serve and what they would do. There are estimates that by this time there were 18,000 priests. That is a long way from Aaron and his two sons who were the first priests.
With that many priests, it would not be unlikely that someone like Zacharias, got to serve in the temple ONCE in his entire life. There would be other duties and other functions, but nothing as special as going into the Temple. That may have happened only once in a lifetime.
Can you imagine how special that would be. I expect Elizabeth, his wife, was up early that morning, fixing him a special breakfast and making sure that all this garments were ready. The entire family would know that this is the day that Zacharias was going to the temple. This was a huge “Wow” event. He was going to serve the Lord in the Temple.
I wonder sometimes if today we have lost that “wow” affect in our worship. In a move to make folks comfortable and even connect with outsiders, our worship can come across as causal, even, unplanned. An article circulating recently about the “attire of ministers in mega churches” caught my eye. Gone are the suits. The ties are gone. Now it’s Hawaiian shirts, blue jeans and flip flops. Those leading worship are dressed that way and too often the audience is dressed even more casual, down to ‘jama pants.’ But the attire is just the surface. What’s missing is the majesty of worship and the awe of God. Songs leaders giving little thought and little practice to what they are leading the congregation, having to stop the song often and start over. Some even picking out a song as they walk to the pulpit to lead. Little thought, little preparation, little understanding how important what they are doing is. God deserves better. Worship demands our best. It’s not just the singing, it’s the overall attitude of worship. Folks consistently arriving late. We know things happen, but every time? Folks in an out of the auditorium, first to get a drink, then later, to go to the bathroom, and then once again for another drink. Are we that thirsty, or is it that we are bored? Has the presence of Almighty God lost His importance to us? Long announcements, repeated at every gathering, set the tone of dry and dull services.
The solution to all of this is to give some thought to what we are doing. Before worship begins, gather all the men who are participating into a classroom. Make sure everyone is clear with what they are doing. Offer a prayer that God will be glorified and the congregation encouraged. This is the time to make sure the mics are working, not during the worship. This is the time to double check what songs are being led, to make sure the congregation knows them. This is the time to have the Bible marked so the reading is smooth and accurate. This is the time to make sure all the buttons are buttoned, zippers zipped, ties tied and everyone is ready to serve God.
Those that serve need to arrive early. They need to be ready. I have seen too many times, people running around as services are beginning trying to fill the spots of those who are to serve because no one knows where some are. The spots are filled and then the one on the schedule rolls in two minutes after services begin. Now what? He forgot he was serving. Do you think Zacharias forgot the day he served?
Something is terribly wrong in all of this. There is a spirit missing. We’ve forgotten God in all of this. It wouldn’t hurt to even have a post worship meeting on a Monday to discuss what worked and what didn’t work. Why do all of this? Because we want to give God our best. We are done with sloppy, shabby, worship that comes across like no one knows what they are doing. We want to give the maximum thought and attention to the God of Heaven who sent Jesus to die for us. That was thought out, planned and set. And here we are falling asleep during worship, stumbling around and acting like this is the first time we’ve ever done this. Embarrassing to visitors, shameful to members, and lacking reverence to God, these things need to end. It’s time to give God our best every time. Preach the best we can preach. Sing the best we can sing. Pray fervently, each time. Not mindless, thoughtless repeating of the same words, the same way, every time. Give thought to what we are doing. Put time into it. The “good-ole boy” approach to worship which is more like a comedy club than the worship of God must come to an end.
It’s God what we worship. Give Him the best. It starts even before you walk into the building. It starts at home. It starts with your attitude. Staying up all hours on Saturday night is doomed to give God a tired, sleepy, less than best worship. Get to bed. Arise early and get things in order. It’s off to God’s house we go. Have everything thought out or laid out on Saturday night. Find the Bibles, the shoes, the ties. It’s off to God’s house in the morning. Travel singing hymns. Travel with a mind that is thinking about God. Be thinking of God. Greet each other with smiles and joy. Enter worship with great anticipation and joy. This spirit will change the outcome of worship. You will get more out of it. Sit up close. Sing out. Open your Bible. Drink deeply. God’s been good to you. God’s been thinking about you. It’s your time to thank Him.
The majesty of worship. Let’s find it and bring it back!
Roger