Love and Worship

Love is a commitment that fulfills itself in action. Worship is the obedient response to the revealed nature and character of God. To reduce either to mere feelings misses the depth in both.

Perhaps one of the most well known passages on love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


In verses 1-3 we learn that we can do many things, but doing alone does not guarantee love. In verses 4-8a we learn that love is like the nature of God, Himself. The commitment part of love cannot rest without the actions that are in line with the nature and character of God. The power for the commitment of this self-giving motivation can only come from God, Himself. “For God so loved, He gave His only Son....” John 3:16 does not say that God felt so sorry for sinners, or that He was trying to fulfill some need in His being, for God has no needs and does not lack anything. His was a willful commitment to us, without any possibility of return. He did not do it so because it “felt” good.

As believers, we need to be cautious that we reduce love to what we can feel. Feelings are like fruit, sometimes they are there and sometimes they are not. But to say that one must have feelings of that one must have a certain feeling or even a certain level of feelings in order to say that we love, then we have gone beyond the example of Scripture.

Although the two are different, there are some similarities between love and worship that bear bringing to light. Many times there are certain emotions as a result of worship, but those feelings can never be the measure of the depth of our worship, any more than looking only at an apple can tell us the size of the tree from which it fell. Worship, first and foremost is an obedient response to the revealed nature and character of God. There may or may not be a flood of feelings linked to it. Sometimes we are overwhelmed with the absolute awesomeness of a Holy God and other times there is a quiet peace and joy. There may be times that we believe God is there and working, even when we don’t “feel” His presence. He has called us to live by faith, not by feelings.

Reducing worship to a feeling also reverses the focus of worship. The focus of worship is always toward God and God alone. The focus of feelings is inward, personal. By measuring our worship by our feelings we must take our focus from God and place it on ourselves. Such actions can only lead to confusion and frustration because the need for an emotional high can only become greater and greater. When we evaluate our worship on the basis of an emotional response, it is only a small step from evaluating the worship service, its leadership and the pastor, himself with the same measure. This generally results in personality focused worship and even idolatry.

Does this mean that there should not be feelings in our worship whatsoever? No, the fruit of the Holy Spirit includes joy and peace, natural results of being controlled by the Spirit of God. Paul admonished the church at Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Certainly if we have no joy and peace in our walk with the Lord we have room for concern. I believe the danger lies dependance on having a certain level of feelings as the measure of our relationship with God. One of the concerns is that some would attend worship in the sole anticipation of some dramatic moment, when God is longing to speak in a still small voice as He did to Elijah.

What are the danger signs of a misplaced focus? How can we avoid these dangers? I believe that the Lord can guide us into this discernment, if we are open and honest before Him. Some of the” “red flags” to watch for might include the following:
1. Saying that we must have a particular pastor, teacher, song, style of music, etc., before we can really feel like we have worshiped.
2. Describing our worship in terms of how we felt, more than what God is leading us to do.
3. Being more conscious about how we are feeling about the worship service than actively participating and focusing on God.

I’m sure there are many more, but this can give us a starting list of the danger signs. The question remains, How can we avoid this?
1. Strong understanding of what biblical worship is. Grasping from what basis we evaluate base our worship practice.
2. Deliberate preparation for worship.
3. Active focusing on the nature and character of God through thanksgiving and praise.

Worship in Difficult Times

Worship in Difficult Times
Psalm 57

Few would disagree that worship is important when we face difficult times, but how can we do it? When everything seems to be caving in on us, or the news continues to get worse and worse, we know we need to look to the Father, but at times we seem almost frozen in our tracks. In Psalm 57, David gives us some help as we walk with him as he faces a life and death situation.

It is interesting that Psalm 57 was written to “Do Not Destroy” and although scholars are not exactly sure if this was a tune, a style or even an instrument, its choice is significant in that he is facing certain danger and chooses to write to “Do Not Destroy.” There is a plea even in the choice of tune or style. The song is a prayer, or perhaps it could be said the prayer is a song.

The introduction not only states that to what it was written, and how it was written, but in what circumstances David penned the psalm: fleeing from Saul and hiding in a cave. On at least two occasions David hid in caves while eluding Saul’s pursuit: I Samuel 21 and I Samuel 23. Both times he is delivered by God. In fact, this psalm is just one of many where David is crying out to God for help, but our focus will remain here for right now. That’s the basic context, let’s look at the heart of the song.

Before we understand how worship fits into the picture, we need to trace a progression that is found in the psalm. This is not to provide an in-depth study, but just to highlight the process of David’s prayersong:
    •    He begins with a plea for mercy to God, because “in You I have taken shelter” [v. 1]
    •    “I cry out for help” to God to deliver for enemies, to send love and faithfulness [v. 2]
    •    “I am surrounded by lions,” he describes his circumstances [v. 4]
    •    “I lie down among those who want to devour me,” more about his circumstances [v. 4]
    •    A plea for God to rise up and show His splendor [v. 5]
    •    “I am discouraged,” he describes his feelings [v. 6]
    •    “I am determined,” action based on will, not emotion [v.7]
    •    “I will sing and praise you,” he chooses to praise as an act of the will [v. 7]
    •    “I will wake up at dawn,” he put his time of praise as a priority [v. 8]
    •    “I will give you, thanks,” he chooses to thank God ‘in’ (not for) his circumstance [v. 9]
    •    “I will sing praises to you,” praise and thanksgiving as a testimony [v. 9]
    •    “For your loyal love...and faithfulness,” he focus changes on God’s nature and character [v.10]
    •    He repeats his plea for God to rise up and show His splendor [v. 11]

Notice the progression: (1) calling to God for mercy in the midst of the difficulty, (2) clarification of the difficulty, (3) admission of personal feelings, (4) choosing to praise God as an act of will over emotion, (5) giving thanks “in” the situation [not for], (6) focus on God’s nature and character. His faith is implied in that he goes to God from the outset, but the process is also important because it can serve as a model for how to worship while facing difficult times.

Knowledge of the content is not enough, we must learn to apply what Scripture teaches if we are to experience true change and growth. So let’s apply what David did to deal with the situation. First, we need to go to God for His mercy; He is a merciful and loving God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. David was hiding in a cave, but his confidence was not in the cave, but in God. Our going to Him first is that expression of faith that He is able to handle the situation. We call out to Him.

Secondly, we need to clarify the difficulty. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by cloud of difficulties and need to literally list them out. Many times writing them out on paper helps put them in perspective and even clarify what the real issues are.

Thirdly, we must admit to ourselves and to God how we are feeling. The longer we are in the faith, there exists the temptation to avoid admitting that we are struggling with negative feelings, bitterness, hurt, pride, and even anger against God for allowing some things to happen. David is such a strong example in this area. Time and time again he pours out his deepest hurts and feelings toward God, Himself. How does God respond? Did God whip David into shape for saying such thing? No, God continued to reveal more and more of His nature and character. What David shows is an honesty before God that leads to greater trust, not an anger that pushes itself away from God. In addition to honesty before God, sometimes our pride prevents us from admitting to others that we are struggling with “feelings that we shouldn’t have.” However, being transparent about our feelings before others can be a very helpful tool so long as it does not slide into an excuse for wrong behavior.

Fourthly, perhaps one of the most difficult, is to choose to praise God by an act of will over our feelings. The fact is that we must live by faith, not by feelings. Some might say, “I don’t want to be hypocritical.” Point taken, but please allow me to give a personal example: I am not a “morning person,” however, as an act of the will I still get up at 5:00 am during the school year to get ready. Am I a hypocrite for getting up? No, it would be hypocritical if I said that I enjoy getting up, but acting on my will rather than my emotion does not make me a hypocrite. A mature Christian once told me to choose to act regardless how you feel and your feeling will eventually follow. I have found that to be true. We choose to praise God. Praise Him for His nature, His character, His works, list them out, say them out loud. Recall what He has done for you in the past, His salvation, protection, provision and His very presence in the past. Praising God in the way will lead  to the next part as it did for David.

Fifthly, we begin to give God thanks “in” the situation. I Thess. 5:18 Paul says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice that Paul said “in,” not “for.” Tragedies by their very nature are not something we are thankful for, but we can still be grateful “in,” by an act of the will as we mediate on the goodness of the Lord and all that He has done in the past. Notice also that it is not a command to “feel thankful.” Our feelings must not be the sole measure of our relationship with God. As we enumerate back to God our gratitude for His countless blessings, our emotions will catch up to our minds, which will lead us to the last part of the process.

Sixthly, we focus on God and who He is. As we continue to rehearse in our hearts and minds the greatness of God and the glorious things He has done in Scripture, in the lives of others and in our own life, we begin to realize anew that God is in control, that we can trust Him, that the problems are real, but God is greater than our problems. As we continue in the process we realize that worship has transformed our perception of the difficulty and deepened our understanding of God.

Whether you are in the middle of a terrible situation now or face one next week, go back to some lessons taught by someone who was after “God’s own heart.” Realize how worshiping God can teach us how to respond in the darkest times.