The worship band is playing enthusiastic praise songs. The rhythm is upbeat and driving. The sound is loud. The volume is turned on full. But the hall is just a quarter full. Where are the worshippers? The service has been running for 15 minutes and the church members are still in their vehicles travelling on open roads. No traffic jams. Worse still, some have not left their homes and contemplating if they should give the service a skip. Others are fellowshipping in the hallways and parking lots.
35 minutes into the service, the hall is now packing up. The majority of the members have arrived to hear the message of the day. Sigh.... worship is just relegated to be simply a time filler before the preaching.
Late before the King of kings? How can that be? Should it be tolerated. Absolutely no!
But this is the common scene played out weekly in many churches.There are many members but few worshippers. We have forgotten the primacy of reverencing God.
You see, worship requires sacrifice. We prefer to receive from the message.
Worship requires effort and concentration. We prefer to chill out in our seats and let the preacher sweat out to deliver the word.
In worship - God is the center.
In preaching - the preacher is the attraction.
This weekend when you attend the church, will you go as a worshipper or just as a member to suck up new data? Well, if you do go as a worshipper, then arrive early. Choose to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. By the way, God is looking for true worshippers and not simply attending members. John4:23
