As we enter a new year may we have a desire for our personal and corporate worship to be transformed into all that God would have it be. At the moment I am in an intensive personal study of I John. This is what led me to talk about transforming worship.
Sometimes our worship becomes cold and ritualistic, both personally and corporately. Our worship is more impersonal than intimate. It is as if we worship a God far off in distant heaven rather than with us and in us. In I John, he reminds us that the Christian walk is an intimate relationship between us, our triune God, and our Christian brothers and sisters. Therefore in worship we do not stand back at a distance, but we enter into a close fellowship with God and with those who have joined with us in worship.
One of my favorite words found both in the gospel of John as well as in I John, is the word "abide". This Greek word, meno, means "to remain, to live, to continue, to abide". John uses this word to explain and emphasize the depth and intimacy of our relationship with God. We abide in both the Son and the Father (I John 4:15). We know this because of the gift of the Holy Spirit in us (I John 3:24). Through the Spirit, God lives in us . . . making Himself manifest in us (I John 4:15).
John leaves no doubt that there is an intimacy to our relationship which, when we get ahold of that truth, can transform our worship. It is not long-distance communication; it is intimate communion. We share in the very life of God Himself. To know God in this way not only calls for expression of our love to Him, but also for His people (I John 4:11). Genuine fellowship and worship with God manifested always includes fellowship and love for God's people. As we have said before, "Authentic worship always spills out onto others." In fact in the gospel of John, chapter 7, verse 38, John says it in a different way . . . "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." As we enter this new year may our worship be transformed, spilling out and splashing onto others - manifesting His glory for all! mjm
