Worship Devotional LVII
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 1/21/2021.
Worship Devotional for 1/24/21
In these times, we are living in a world that is full of division and distraction. We don't need all the noise and the stuff which the world continually offers based on the false promise that it is somehow able to satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. What we need — both in such times as these and in every time — is to listen with humble hearts to what the one true and living God says, to put our faith and hope in Him, and to live for His glory. We can only do this by His grace which He gives according to His will. This week is about faith and life in Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:
"Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but commending ourselves to every person's conscience in God's sight by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, 'I believed, therefore I spoke,' we also believe, and therefore speak. We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you. Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God's glory.
Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
What we see around us are many things that would distract us from the only thing that really matters if we focus on them or allow our hearts to run after them. What truly matters in the end is that which is eternal and unseen — the kingdom of God. It is seen by faith, to which we must cling tightly. What do you need to turn away from that is distracting you from the kingdom of God right now? May we humble ourselves before God and turn our eyes to Him, our only Source of true life and peace.
Hebrews 12:1-2:
"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
This week (the week of 1/21) we remember the example of those who have gone before, their faith, and how they lived for God's glory — those from long ago in Scripture, all throughout history up to these present days, and even those from our own church who have glorified God in both life and death. May we be encouraged to cast aside what doesn't please God, including all the divisions and distractions that are so pervasive in our lives, and may we live by faith and by the Holy Spirit as followers of Christ.
Philippians 1:21 (KJV):
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Here are the songs:
1) Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship
Our faith is given to us by God, according to His grace and His sovereign purpose. We cannot earn it or muster it up from within ourselves. This song is a prayer that God would give us faith in the midst of whatever we're going through, that He would break up and soften our hard hearts, open our eyes to see that He is working in our lives, cleanse our deepest motives, and cause us to trust in what He says. He is the author and source of our faith as well as the One who carries it through to completion. He began His work in us, and He will complete it in the end. What we need in these times is faith, and God is the One who provides it for us.
Listen to Elevation Worship behind the song here.
2) To Live Is Christ by Sidewalk Prophets
Isn't it wonderful and encouraging to know that we have life now in Christ, and that to die is only better for us, since we will be with Him in glory in heaven for eternity? This is the hope we have in Jesus. We do not need the world or its futile ways to give us a false and temporary sense of purpose for existing, only to be ultimately disappointed when its promises prove empty in the end. Instead, let us joyfully heed and obey the commands of the One who gives real life, which lasts forever.
Luke 9:23-25:
"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?'"
Listen to Dave Fey of Sidewalk Prophets behind the song here.
3) Life Defined by Shane & Shane
Galatians 2:19-20:
"For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Listen to Shane Barnard behind the song here.
4) When My Heart Is Torn Asunder by Phil Wickham
When things get hard and it feels like the world is crashing and falling apart around us and we feel like our hearts are being torn apart, where do we turn? How do we stand and endure the painful struggles of this life? Those without faith who belong to the world put false hope in things that will fail in the end. But we believe and put our hope in the true and holy One who will never fail. When what you see is discouraging and difficult, look past it in faith at the promises God has given us. We have eternal life and reward and joy and peace waiting for us, for we have been redeemed and saved by the One who loves us with an everlasting love. Though our earthly bodies may be dying, our souls will always be alive through Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
Romasn 5:1-5:
"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Listen to Phil Wickham behind the song here.
Set theme(s): Philippians 1:21, Faith
Scripture references:
Psalms 73, 84, 86
Matthew 10:37-39, 13:3-23, 16:24-27
Mark 8:34-38
Luke 8:4-18, 9:23-26, 14:25-35, 17:5-10
John 12:24-26
Romans 1:16-17, 5:1-5
2 Corinthians 4-5, 13:5
Galatians 2:19-20
Ephesians 1:17-19
Philippians 1:21-25
Colossians 3
Hebrews 11, 12:1-2
This time of year, leading up to Palm Sunday and the Easter season, is a time for our songs to focus on what is eternal and to encourage us to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on what is true — on the One who is the truth: Jesus Christ. For the next few weeks, from now through Valentines Day, the songs will be about the three things that last forever according to 1 Corinthians 13:13 — faith, hope, and love. After that we will sing about God's faithfulness and goodness, who He is to us as our Father and Friend and Shepherd, and how we are satisfied in only Him. This is the vision for right now because what we need right now (and always) with all that has been going on and that is still going on is to turn to and fix our eyes on Jesus.
Colossians 3:1-4:
"So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
May God's grace and peace be with you as you keep holding onto faith!