I was at my
local coffee shop on a quiet, early, Saturday morning. A few customers sat around drinking
caffeinated beverages. An older man
walked in, set up a laptop computer, put on head phones and instantaneously was
glued to his screen. He was
captivated. Whatever was on, pulled him
in immediately. I had to see what had
him mesmerized. I was able to sneak a
peek from where I was seated. It was a
bike race. People on bikes…not that extraordinary. So, I continued studying.
A while
later the peace of the coffee shop ended when “bike guy” jumped to his feet,
started clapping and cheering, “Go! Go! Go! Goooooooooooooo!” He was shouting at the top of his lungs! His clapping and cheering turned into jumping
and fists pumping in the air, “Go! Go! Go, YESSSS!” Apparently, the race had ended and “bike guy”
was wiping the tears away from his face. The rest of the coffee shop looked on in
confusion.
The next
day at church, we were in an intense time of worship. God was moving. Some had been clapping, others cheering, and
shouting at the top of their lungs.
Others were wiping tears from their eyes. As I sang and played the bass I noticed some visitors,
kind of looking around, confused. I
remembered “bike guy.” His passion made
no sense. Yesterday, us, the caffeine
connoisseurs were missing his context.
The visitors that day were missing ours.
So, between
songs I felt the need to clarify: “You might wonder why we sing, clap, shout,
why some have tears in their eyes. This all
seem strange and confusing when you miss the context. God has been so good to us. He’s saved us, changed us, He’s working in
our homes bringing healing and blessings.
What you’re seeing this morning is simply our responds to His goodness.”
That’s a
large part of what the worship service is all about, us responding to all He’s
been doing in our lives (and recognizing Who He is as well).
Jesus was invited to a dinner party at a Pharisee’s
house. A lady with a bad reputation crashed
the event. The Bible tells us: 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she
began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed
them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:38 (NIV)
Her extravagant display caught the dinner host off guard. So, as always, Jesus turns this opportunity into
a teaching moment. The student that day
was his host, Simon the Pharisee: 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender.
One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back,
so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied,
“I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You
have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you
see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my
feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not
give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped
kissing my feet. 46 You
did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I
tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But
whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:41-47 (NIV)
There’s a direct connection between the extravagance of your
worship and the amount of debt you’ve been forgiven. There’s a direction connection between your
passionate display and the where He’s rescued you from. So, may the extravagance of your worship make a statement of the
greatness and goodness of your God!
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