Jump Start # 1728

Psalms 34:3 “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

  Worship is a powerful experience. It praises God when it is according to His will. Not all worship pleases God. The modern church has forgotten that. They believe anything that they do God will love. The story of Cain and Abel reminds us that God doesn’t accept nor approve of every worship. The story of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offering strange fire, illustrates that God doesn’t want us to be different, original, unique or unusual when it comes to worship. He has shown us what He wants. He wants heart felt, genuine worship that follows His will.

Worship is good for us. It changes us. It opens our eyes. It has a way of getting our perspective in the right order. It gets our attention off of us and our problems and upon the God of Heaven and Earth. Worship  is good and right.

Our verse today emphasizes the importance of worshipping with others. Three times this is stated in one sentence. It is “with me;” “let us;” and, “together.” This passage is inviting others to worship with him. It is the call to come together and join heart and mind in worship. There is such a good effect when we worship with others.

First, it reminds us that we are not alone. In our times we can feel that way. Most of us are spread out. We don’t live in small villages, and we don’t walk to everything. We don’t walk daily to the market place as they would have in those early Bible years. It is not uncommon for brethren to only see each other at the church house a couple of times a week. The rest of the time, our homes, jobs and distance from each other leaves us isolated from each other. It is easy, especially in our times, to feel alone, discouraged and doubting. Coming together, and seeing others, lifts our spirits. It reminds us that we are not alone. There are others. Elijah thought he was the only one who was serving the Lord. God reminded him that there were thousands who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Somehow, ole’ Elijah didn’t know about that.

Second, worshipping together encourages us. We may enter the church building with our heads down and are hearts heavy with the toils of the world. Problems, stresses, worries can simply drain the life out of us. But then we see each other. Hope arises. A prayer. A certain song. An encouraging comment. A smile. A hug. And suddenly our problems do not seem so large after all. Suddenly we realize that God is greater than our problems. Encouragement is oxygen for our souls. We get that from our togetherness.

Third, we get inspired, challenged and motivated when we are together. We see spiritual giants among us. We hear of what others are doing. We see needs that we can help out with. We learn. Questions are answered. Hearts are filled with hope and love.

Fourth, we see unity in practice. We look around during worship and notice grandparents and little ones and teenagers and young couples. We notice businessmen and farmers. We see those who are in college and those who never went to college. We see blue collar workers and white collar workers. We see different races. We see different backgrounds. Each person has a story. Each person has a past. Each person comes because they need and love Jesus. Red and yellow, black and white—our souls are the same to God. With each other, we are color blind. We notice the big ones helping the little ones. We see laughter and joy and smiles. We are one. This is a picture that our nation doesn’t understand. It wants to separate us all into different categories. The unity of worship dissolves those lines of division. We shouldn’t define ourselves as white churches or black churches, but rather, God’s church. We stand as one. One voice. One mind. One heart. This only happens when we worship together.

Fifth, God is glorified. Our verse uses the word “magnify.” The thought is not that we are making God larger than what He is. You can’t do that. You can’t put God in a box, a building or even in a definition. He’s too big for all of that. The thought is focus or attention. Let us focus upon God. Let us magnify God. We do not gather to hear our story. Our stories end up the same. We disappointed and disobeyed God. We all have. Rather, we come to hear His story. His story of how He loves us and wants us back. His story of righteousness, blessings and patience. Too many books today, and too many sermons today focus upon us. I have a collection of books on the prodigal son. It’s one of my favorite themes in the Bible. Current books on this parable always tell the author’s own story of rebellion. Why? Is his story better than God’s story? We do not magnify each other. We magnify God. Our attention is upon God. Standing in His presence ought to humble us. He is always right and we are not. He is always pure and we are not. He is always good and we are not. It is God that we are drawn together.

Sixth, without God, most of us would not even know each other. It is because of God and His church that we have come to know and love each other. There would be no “let us,” or, “together,” if it were not for God. The greatest people I know are Christians. My best friends are Christians. I know people all over the world because of Jesus. My network is huge. Some would say, “It’s a small world.” The truth is, “It’s a large family.” It’s a family that loves and wants the best for each of us. Because of God, we have surrounded ourselves with some of the best people in the world. People who love and care for you. People who will tell you the truth, even if it hurts. People who want you to go to Heaven. Quality people. People of character. People who are honest. God’s people.

With me, let us, together—the joy of worshipping God with others. Now, what does all of this say to the guy who doesn’t connect with the church or doesn’t go very often. He’s alone. He’s isolated. He’s not sure. His network of friends are mostly people of the world. He is pulled constantly to return to the ways he has left. He is weak. He doesn’t know. He doesn’t have the hope that others have. All of this could change if he would jump in with others and worship. Worship often. Worship weekly. Worship every time the doors are opened. Get to know the church family. Get to know God. What a profound difference this would make in his life. There would be positive changes that would effect his eternity.

With me…let us…together—magnify the Lord. Another Psalm states it this way, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (122:1). Let us. Glad. Go to the house of the Lord. Powerful words that show what happens in our worship.

Magnify the Lord together!

Roger