Sometimes the best gifts are those we share with others, and yet it's so easy to take corporate worship for granted. I don't mean to say it loses it's significance or ceases to be enjoyable, but if you go to church regularly, it's just a part of life. Get up on Sunday morning, go to church, listen to announcements, stand with congregation, sing God's praises. Repeat 52 times a year. But this past Sunday, God gave me a fresh perspective.
As I stood singing and pretending not to cry (see "I'm No Cry Baby") I let my eyes wander around the room. I kept singing, but after a few minutes, I was only half paying attention because my mind had taken a cue from my eyes and was wandering as well, (Judy's girls are so cute...Hey, it's Brenda! I haven't talked to her in awhile...I wonder if Sharon has sold her house yet? Where's Mary Jane? I've missed her...). And then, the chorus of a song tore my attention from these pleasantly temporal thoughts.
Savior, you showed your love
Defeated our sin, poured out your blood
So we praise you, lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim
"What a Savior!"
In that moment, I was struck by the mingling of the mundane and mysterious. I was confessing these words with hundreds of people, many of whom I know well and enjoy interacting with in the course of everyday life. Though the truth expressed was not new to me, I marveled as the throng of mere mortals gratefully proclaimed it afresh. Infinite, immutable, inexhaustible grace extended to all those who confess Christ. Generations of His redeemed children will sing of Him throughout all eternity. I wouldn't miss it for the world, would you?
As I stood singing and pretending not to cry (see "I'm No Cry Baby") I let my eyes wander around the room. I kept singing, but after a few minutes, I was only half paying attention because my mind had taken a cue from my eyes and was wandering as well, (Judy's girls are so cute...Hey, it's Brenda! I haven't talked to her in awhile...I wonder if Sharon has sold her house yet? Where's Mary Jane? I've missed her...). And then, the chorus of a song tore my attention from these pleasantly temporal thoughts.
Savior, you showed your love
Defeated our sin, poured out your blood
So we praise you, lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim
"What a Savior!"
In that moment, I was struck by the mingling of the mundane and mysterious. I was confessing these words with hundreds of people, many of whom I know well and enjoy interacting with in the course of everyday life. Though the truth expressed was not new to me, I marveled as the throng of mere mortals gratefully proclaimed it afresh. Infinite, immutable, inexhaustible grace extended to all those who confess Christ. Generations of His redeemed children will sing of Him throughout all eternity. I wouldn't miss it for the world, would you?
