Worship Inside and Out

When Jesus was on earth he taught and interacted with people. Many of them were in need and didn’t have money, health or prestige. We do live in this world without something. We may wish we were stronger, richer, prettier, more powerful or with some other advantage. Jesus doesn’t emphasize the advantage over others but what we can become within ourselves.
 
The Pharisees were concerned about appearance and what other people thought. They were often critical of Jesus for associating with sinners. They assumed since Jesus would talk and eat with them that somehow their sin would rub off on Jesus. Jesus must be sinful also since he was around them. They never did get the concept that the doctor is the one who is around the most sick people. The one who could do the most good for them would naturally be the one they were around the most.
 
When we get ready for worship, we may do more looking in the mirror than looking in the Bible. We get ready to be seen in public by people, more than we prepare to be seen by God in our heart. Which one is real worship? Is it when we are caught up by emotion in the crowd or when we feel close to God in our time of prayer? They can both work together to make the best connect with God and with others. We can’t leave out either one.  
 
If our preparation for worship was mostly to be seen in public then it may be understandable that when we worship at home online, the experience is flat and loses meaning. We sit there with ourselves and no one sees us. Or do we sit with God all around us and find the experience of not being interrupted by people around us a much more fulfilling experience? We need to use both public and private worship to build our relationship with God and each other.  
 
Terry
Friday, October 16, 2020