WORSHIP WHEN PLANS CHANGE

"He must become greater; I must become less."

John the Baptist (John 3:30)

So here I sit, with 15 minutes left to board a flight for Durban.  Everything is on track; for once - no delays, all is going according to schedule.  Except, I left my wallet (and ID) at home.  My first response?  Panic!  The next flight is in five hours time.  I frantically phoned my lift to check the car, just to confirm that it wasn't there.  I then phoned my wife, who confirmed that my wallet was indeed at home; 20 minutes one-way...

As the realisation sinks in that I've woken up at 04:30 all for nothing, I am reminded of GOD's overriding control of everything.  My mind fights it and tries to remind me that the situation that I'm in is my fault, not GOD's.  I should worry - that's natural!  I should blame myself - that's what any sane person should do!

But then the Spirit reminds me that GOD is greater than my absent mindedness, His presence shines through the holes of my inadequacies.  I don't need to ask GOD to make a plan, because He has already made a plan.  My plan was to board the 06:15 flight, because I had meetings at 08:00.  My plan was spend the morning in Durban.  My plan should've been to remember my wallet.

GOD's plan?  For me to worship Him.  That's all I have to do.  Worry about a missed flight?  Certainly not.  Worry about missed meetings?  Certainly not!  GOD wants me to relax and rest in His presence.  He has His plans, and those are more important than mine.  It's that simple.

WORSHIP OUTSHINES WORRY

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

 Phil 4:6-7 (MSG)

What was the climax of your day/week/month?  I know that if I'm honest with myself (which is not always easy!!) my mind tries to highlight the trials, challenges and worries.  I think things like "Well, I lost a client, but I'm working really hard to get another one", or "I still haven't forgiven myself for..., but I know that I must."

We're programmed to overcome, we're wired in such a way that we naturally need to fix and triumph in difficulties and hardships.  Our natural inclination is not to just sit back and relax - even if we are from Cape Town... it's just not natural.

WORSHIP BIGGER!

As we move forward in our life, one of two things happen; either our passion for Jesus grows or we find that it fizzles out!  Unfortunately, the latter is true for many of us.  I believe that the key to keeping our relationship with our GOD full of passion and challenge lies in worship: daily, true, heartfelt encounters with our Creator. (John 4:24)

Jesus had this to say about devotion...

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

So - part of our devotion (or worship) is shown through our service.

In the Greek translation of the New Testament, the word latreuo is sometimes used for worship.  It means "to serve" and is similar to the root word for liturgy (order of worship).  This word is found in Rom 12:1b "...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."  True worship happens when we serve!

In the Old Testament, we find the word abad is used for worship.  In Deut 6:13 - "Serve  and worship (abad) him [your GOD] exclusively."  Jesus quoted this when the devil was tempting Him to forsake His worship of GOD and bow down to him.