Forgiveness : The Ultimate Worship Expression. October 7, 2009
Posted by searchtech in Praise and Worship.trackback
When I play with the worship team, I close my eyes and just reach out to God with my heart. This to me was my greatest act of worship, giving Him everything when I played.
Because I felt that way, I found myself only able to connect with Him when I played, or when I read the Bible. Otherwise, I didn’t have that knowledge that I was was communing with God. I knew that this was an issue,but I didn’t know what it was causing it.
I prayed a lot about this and finally, after a few weeks of inner turmoil, He revealed it to me. I was not as forgiving as I need to be.God forgave us our sins. He forgives us our trespasses,if we forgive others who trespass against us. (Mark 11:20)
He showed me that I wouldn’t be able to truly worship unless I forgave as it shows that we honor God in our hearts as well as with our mouths,guitars, drums etc.. and thats where true worship is. It’s the actions in our hearts. So by forgiving others as he forgives us,we are honoring God in the highest form,showing we want to be Like our Father.
So I am making it a practice to forgive when I wake, when I am at work, and when I go to bed.In this way I truly Honor and Worship God.
Lloyd, I’m responding to this one because I can respond with less words (I’ll still get to your other posts very shortly – nice to know you forgive me…) AND also, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you made a post about worship that wasn’t based entirely upon music.
You know I write worship songs so when I say this, it’s not me attacking something I don’t like or have no knowledge of or experience with, but I tire so quickly of worship being defined solely with music attached.
You brought up a wonderful point with forgiveness. The fact is if we do not forgive we are not forgiven, this is clearly illustrated in parable and also without riddles by Jesus Christ (aka GOD). It’s not debatable. One may ask, “So, Michael you’re saying if I don’t forgive, God doesn’t forgive me?” Yes, that’s EXACTLY what I’m saying.
And if we are not forgiven by God, do you think we are in any place to have our worship received? Of course not. I think it’s during those times when God receives our worship like he received that of Cain, “I’m sorry Cain, if you repent and do what is right, I’ll happily accept your worship but if you don’t…”
So, I just want to publicly praise and thank you for bringing a depth often neglected to our (the Church’s) conversation on worship.
By the way, this comes from someone who lived in a long period of unforgiveness as well. I keep my accounts short now, preferably same day.
Thanks Mike. It is something that we musicians are guilty of, thinking that the world revolves around music. In way it helps us creatively because we look at everything as musical inspiration.
But inspiration with with Gods edification I have found to be hollow.