Daily Devotional
Freedom and Liberty in Worship
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
2 Corinthians 3:17
May 24, 2019
Ponder This
Formalism and worship are two separate things. Worship is not really quiet music and everyone sitting still and not smiling. That, in and of itself, is not worship. Some people say, “Well that was a dignified service.” Perhaps they don’t know the difference between reverence and rigor mortis.
When you are worshiping the Lord, there should be both freedom and order.
If you study worship in the Bible, you’ll find worship was marked with brightness, spontaneity, and joy. Read the Psalms. Read the accounts of the early Christians who were “continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house; [they] did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46).
Paul encouraged the early church in Ephesians 5 to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
They had something that fire couldn’t burn, swords couldn’t kill, water couldn’t drown, and jails couldn’t hold. They knew the holiness, the loveliness, and the glory of God in a life-changing way.
Practice This
Read Psalm 5:7 and 29:2 and take some time today to worship God in joy, in spirit and in truth.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
