Why? Day 4

Why do you do what you do? In your personal relationship with Christ or in your public worship in the church, you need to know why you do what you do. If you were to define your Christian life, how would you do it? Would you define it by what you do or by stating what you believe? In the Bible, James shows that you must do both.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

To define the faith side I would like to show that our faith is in the absolute truths of God’s Word. For the discussion, we will use the term “principle” for what we believe by faith - the absolute truths of God’s Word. We will use the term “practical” to define what we do - our works. This year, I am planning a daily blog to address the absolute truths in God’s Word and ways we can work to apply those truths. Our day needs to be filled with Biblical principles and practical actions that do not violate these principles. What I have found over a number of years of ministry is that people do not know why they do what they do, neither do they know why they believe what they believe. I hope this exercise will help provoke thought. 

Day 4

Biblical Principle - Absolute truth from God’s Word:

There is only one way to God and only God’s plan of worship is the true way. There are not many ways to God and to worship Him it must be done God’s way.

Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Practical - Works that apply Biblical Principle:

This section is for you to find a way to apply the truth in your life. I will try to give only one as example; there may be other practical ways. This is what makes the Christian walk so important and makes it important to have a deliberate purpose in everything we do.

In the example of Abel, he offered up the sacrifice of the lamb as a testimony of his faith in God and His plan of salvation. The offering was not a work of salvation but an act of faith in the finished work of God for salvation. My practical application in life is that my worship should reflect what God has done for me; my worship should not be about me. Praise is to be to God.  

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Why do you worship the way you do? Does your worship show others what God did for you or is it focused on you? “Seeker-friendly” implies developing worship that attracts what the people wants, not on what God wants.