Experience the Story

Worship is our response to God.  The worship service is a retelling of God's story, so that we may experience part of it. 

Did you experience it this week? 

If you've ever been to a movie that has your heart racing, or a wedding ceremony that brought a tear to your eye, or a concert where the songs and visuals form a moving narrative, you know the difference between just hearing a story and experiencing a story. God's whole story is important each week, but in the worship service we tend to focus on a particular scene. Some weeks we need to experience God's grace. Some weeks we need to remember He has forgiven our sins. Some weeks we need to shout for joy and thanksgiving.

I want to invite you to simply meditate on this week's story below. I'll use the language of Zephaniah 3:17, the songs and prayers from Sunday's service at New Cov, and Tim's message. May this meditation help you experience the story and prompt you to live it out this week...

Brothers and sisters... I get it. You are hurting. You feel the heaviness of worry that comes with this life. Like each step is a chore. You have trudged on and on with some burdens. Not only that, you regret some of the steps you've taken in life. The mud and filth of it all stained your feet, and you worry there's no way to be clean again, no way to enter into the comfort and security of God's home for you.

But, look: Jesus has removed the stain. Permanently. He has taken up the burden so you can let it go. So come to the altar. Jesus is calling you home, and the Father's arms are open wide to welcome you. What a Savior we know! Isn't He wonderful? He gives us his Name: we belong to Him. And that Name is a place of shelter, healing, protection, strength, might, salvation. When we dwell in Him, we are brave. Braver than we ever knew was possible, because nothing is impossible with Him! He calls us out of the boat like Jesus did with Peter, out onto the stormy waves. When you think of all Jesus is... it's better to be with Him in the storm than without Him in the boat! No matter what you are facing, Jesus is there with you, calling you to trust him. His promises are true, His hope is eternal, and His help is yours. Ask, and receive. Seek, and find. Pray, and know that He hears.

Isn't this love of God we find in Jesus amazing? He breaks the power of cancelled sin! He has triumphed over the grave! He is life, and health, and peace! All glory, honor, praise and love to Him from saints above and below! May God help us proclaim his glory and honor. Let our anthem of praise be loud enough to resound throughout our world.

Listen to what God tells us through his prophet Zephaniah: "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Remember his presence, his power. Know that He is proud of you, He praises you with singing. Rest in his peace. Go into the world and bring the Gospel to everyone you encounter! May we go through our week changed: the LORD our God, the Mighty Warrior goes with us!

Amen.