Last week when we were vacationing with my five year old grandson, I found myself repeating that ole’ familiar Momma says – “Sit up straight and pay attention to what you’re doing!” Inevitably, when we were sitting down to eat, he would start out sitting correctly in the middle of his chair, but it wasn’t long and he was “wallowing” all over me. I’d have to say, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. Get back in your chair and sit up straight!”
You know, the Lord also requires the same of us. He expects us to pay attention to what we’re doing in worship and to do it correctly. He has given us His Word, the Bible which tells us how He wants things done. We have it so much easier in this Christian Age, than the Israelites did during the Mosaic Age. We don’t have to make animal sacrifices and perform cleansing rituals, but “all things must be done decently and in order.” (I Corinthians 14:40) We are commanded to teach. In Acts 20:7, we read of Paul preaching on the first day of the week, and it must have been quite a sermon because he preached until midnight. We are commanded to sing – “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) We are to “. . . .pray one for another. . . for the effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) We are to give of our means – “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. . .” (I Corinthians 16:2) One of the most powerful and meaningful part of worship each Sunday is the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. The early church “broke bread” on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and since every week has a “first day” in it, we must “do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19b)
Yes, as Momma said, we must “sit up straight and pay attention to what you’re doing!” We must free our minds of lunch plans, work schedules, and ballgame scores and enter worship with our hearts, souls, and minds. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves…” (II Corinthians 13:5) As Momma says, “Sit up straight and pay attention to what you’re doing!” God Bless, Courtney
ANOTHER GOOD ONE!!