Be Excited About Your Worship

Psalm 98:2-6: "The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-shout for joy before the LORD, the King."

If there is any group of people who should be utterly ecstatic in their faith, it would be the true followers of Jesus Christ. When this people truly come to realize the true benefits that have been lavished upon them from the Sovereign Lord, they will not be able to help but rise up in celebration to praise the Lord of Hosts. It is a necessary consequence of those who have experienced the redemption of the Lord and who grasp the magnanimity of such grace.

These followers of Christ also recognize that the Lord is the One True King, who is worthy of worship. They will rise to the occasion to honor the Savior, because He is majestic in His holiness and is due our shouts of praise (though we are not worthy in and of ourselves to offer worship to the LORD . . . to be given the opportunity to worship the LORD is a privilege granted to us from the Almighty)!

Now, how often have we seen attendees in churches participating in a formality of worship without demonstrating their sincerest appreciation for the love and redemption of the Lord? Whereas we know that people have differing personality dispositions, still we should expect that a redeemed people rise to the occasion to celebrate the Lord. If one sees personal and corporate worship as an obtrusive inconvenience and drudgery to be quickly shuffled off in order to move on to more important matters, then that person does not appreciate the full significance of God's position as Lord and King as well as the amazing grace that He has offered to us.

If we find ourselves in a state of spiritual lethargy, let us not forget the words of the Psalmist in chapter 100: "Shout for joy to the LORD . . . worship with gladness and come before Him with joyful songs." Why? "For the Lord is God who made us and own us." "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; giving thanks to Him and praising His name." Why? "For the LORD is good, His mercy and love is everlasting, and His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Never forget the greatness of God and His goodness to us. Rise up in a spirit of awe, joy, and celebration to praise the LORD!