Embracing Worship in Community
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a childhood friend of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3 NRSV
Series: Embracing Community in an Age of Individualism
Devotional: 3 of 6
Last week, we explored how embracing prayer in community welcomes others into our stories, creates the necessary space for us to intercede on behalf of one another, and, in time, becomes a natural part of our everyday, ordinary conversations.
Today, we will consider the second of five spiritual disciplines that open us to a deeper, richer life with God in community: Worship.
Adele Ahlberg Calhoun once wrote, "Worship is a word most often associated with religion. But worship can be found in the lives of secularists, agnostics, and even atheists. The simple truth is that everybody looks to something or someone to give their lives meaning. Worship reveals the somethings or someone we value most."
Calhoun's words invite us to slow down and contemplate the following questions:
Who or what really gives our lives meaning?
Who or what are we giving our attention?
Who or what do we offer our love and affection?
But why is it so crucial for us to take the time necessary to seek out the answers to these questions? Because each of us brings the person we are becoming - the "somethings or someone" we worship - into our collective experience of life with God in community.
Looking closer at today's passage (See Acts 13:1-3), the church at Antioch offers us a beautiful picture of how early followers of Jesus embraced worship in community. Here we see "Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a childhood friend of Herod the ruler, and Saul" intentionally coming together to worship the Lord Jesus Christ - worship that likely included prayer, singing, and reading scripture. These were devout men, from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, known for their humility, encouragement, and generosity.
In much the same way, you and I are called to prioritize worshiping together in community. With our individual and collective hearts in a posture of surrender before God, we are now ready to receive what the Holy Spirit might want to say. In this place, our brothers and sisters in Christ play a vital role in recognizing and confirming the Spirit's direction, both for us as individuals and for the community. Making stepping out in obedience to the Spirit's leading, our natural next step, as we seek to do our part to advance the Kingdom of God here on earth.
As you go, take a moment to get quiet before the Lord. In the stillness, simply ask Him what embracing worship in community might look like for you as you seek to become more like Jesus.
OnThe3rdDay Devotionals
Devotionals that illustrate Biblical principles in a simple and short format that can be applied to your everyday life.
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