Do We Worship Him? - Chris Tibbetts
There we stood in the chapel. We were tired from the week of Family Bible Conference, but we were full. My wife and I had brought our children to Bonclarken for their first visit, and seeking quality time with our nieces and nephew, we had brought them, too. The week set up well as we prepared. A very gracious friend was bringing his family up in his camper and allowed us to borrow an extra pop-up camper, to which he had access. Our pastor was also going to join us at the campground with his family. The week set up well.
As we set off for the mountains — vacation getaway day! — our week had me excited. We were getting time away as a family. Time together with our 1 year old daughter and our 4 year old son. Time away as a family in God’s word. Our group needed two vehicles, with the extended family joining our trip, a minor inconvenience, all was going great. All was going exactly as planned. The week had set up well. Until, barely 5 hours into our vacation, the plan took a turn.
I noticed a commotion in my wife’s car, then an immediate maneuver to take the nearest exit. Our 1 year old had gotten sick. Two weeks later we would be praying by her hospital bedside, a month after that, we would be pondering a surgical repair of her gut. But at that moment, ignorant of the future, we cleaned a car seat, a baby, and made the decision to press on to the mountains. Our week did not go exactly as planned. Our little girl remained sick for the first part of the week. Our son got a touch of illness, too. The nieces and nephew who had agreed to tent camp beside the pop-up got scared when people at the conference told stories of bears on the grounds, so they piled in the camper each night. Then one of them broke the camper that our friend had graciously allowed us to borrow. The week was a mess. But when Thursday night came, and my wife and I were finally able to attend a worship service together — the first time all week — our hearts were full. As the sermon ended and the herald sung forth, in, around, and through the chapel, “Hallelujah, praise Jehovah!”, so we did. We were, in those moments, deeply and reverently worshipping God. We were so thankful to be able to do it.
Do we worship Him? I recently explained to my now much older son, that on mornings when I get to preach, I am blessed with a different focus in worship than when I am in the pew. I tried to explain to him the different responsibility of that role, and the reciprocal benefit I receive through that ministry. I know where we are headed in the service, although I know not how the Holy Spirit will move in particular through my preaching. Pastors likely know this reciprocal blessing well. As they pray on Saturday night, alone in the sanctuary, lifting up their congregations. Praying by name, by face, for those who will hear the Word preached the next morning. Praying to the Father for Christ’s glory in the Spirit’s work. They are oriented on His worship.
Do we worship Him, though, in our everyday lives? Around a campsite with an ill child, a broken camper, and six children seeking attention. Do we worship Him when things go according to plan? Do we worship Him when things don’t go according to plan? Do we worship Him?
This summer’s Family Bible Conference focused on the topic of worship. The regular practice of family worship in the home. The biblical testimony of worship in the Scriptures. The preeminence and priority of time set apart for worship day by day. The orientation of our entire being to this end. After all, that is our chief end. We confess that end with frequency — to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But I confess to you now, that I do not always eagerly pursue that end.
Do we worship Him? Christians, whether you are a pastor or a parishioner, whether you are a seasoned veteran of the pew or a recent believer acclimating to your new birth. I encourage you to worship Him. With your life. With the totality of your being. When things go according to plan. When things don’t go according to plan. For He is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Praise Jehovah in the highest! May we worship Him.