Joy Of WorshipSample

How We Live Is Proven in Our Singing

Worship belongs to God, not to man - the same is true of our songs and words to the Lord. Time and time again, as a worship leader, I heard these spoken words: “We’ve gotta play this song on Sunday because (fill-in the blank) ______’s church down the street does it.”

I’ve also heard how some people listened to a Christian artist song on the radio and felt compelled to play it on Sunday. It may be a cool song, but are the words right for your church?

When was the last time you thought about the words of the song, rather than the drum groove or style? Is the song Biblical? Does the song point to the reverence of Almighty God? Do the lyrics speak of His character, nature, and Personhood? Do the words show the human need for divine salvation, mercy, and forgiveness?

How do we spend our time in preparing for the worship of God?

As worshipers, believers, and leaders, we have a higher calling to accountability. We are to be mindful of our words in worship and its preparation. This was Amos’ plea for Israel because the people were not taking God and His words seriously. They were merely facilitating hollowed offerings of numbed utterances through meaningless motions.

God became angry with His people and their worship. In absolute disgust, He condemned their actions through Amos the prophet.

Anytime in Scripture when God denounces the actions and behaviors of a nation or people, it is often referred to as a Sermon of Woes. God says here in Amos 5:23: “Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.”

It is hard work, but we, as the church, need to safeguard our time with the Lord, as well as our services of worship, from becoming meaningless motions and/or noise.

The woes from God spoken through the prophet Amos addressed God’s displeasure of Israel’s meaningless and unacceptable worship. How do these lessons of past generations serve as models for today’s worship life?

May we find them in the words of Joel: “Even now,” declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:12-14)

In our preparation of worship, may we be reminded of our rightful response to Holy God. From childlike prayers to the lifting of holy hands, He desires to engage with His people. He created us to respond back to Him in praise. Let's rightly approach God and wisely prepare for worship - every day.

May we sing along with the Psalm writer in these words that proclaim: “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 89:1)

How we live is proven in our singing. Let’s do it with joy.