Dear Rose Park,
I like balance. For example, I love the beauty of traditions but I also don’t like to be boxed in. On the other side, I love the freshness of a new idea, but I also don’t like to reinvent something every five-minutes. So, when something old and something new can complement each other and work together in perfect balance, this pastor’s heart is deeply warmed.
I had this experience this past week. My morning devotion was based upon Question & Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism. Specifically, I was struck by this phrase: Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. In other words, when the Gospel has taken root in our heart and has impacted our truest selves we won’t serve God out of a sense of guilt or fear, but instead out of great joy and hope. In fact, we will desire to serve God with everything we do and everything we say.
I was thinking of these words while driving home for lunch and listening to the radio when MercyMe’s new song “To Not Worship You” came on. Admittedly, I don’t listen to Christian radio all the time and I certainly don’t know all the new bands and songs. However, these lyrics struck me: You’re the One who makes mountains move. Stars will not shine unless You tell them to. Conquered the grave, to make all things new. Who am I to not worship You?
From Genesis to Revelation we are reminded that God is worthy to be praised. The chorus of angels in Revelation 5 speak directly to this: worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! These angels are then echoed by every living creature in heaven and on earth and even under the earth saying: to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!
If Question & Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism is true…and if the Gospel has taken root in my soul…and if I belong to Christ Jesus…and if I’m wholeheartedly willing and ready to live for Him, then who am I to not worship the One who is worthy to be praised? Who am I, if I think I’m living a life of Christian integrity but only worshipping God when it is convenient to me? Who am I, if I think I’m embodying the Gospel but only serving my neighbors when my calendar allows? Who am I, if I think I’m following the path of righteousness but only extending forgiveness to a few certain individuals?
On Sunday September 17, we are launching our next year-long theme for Rose Park entitled: The House of the Lord. It’s our hope to remind each other of the importance of regular communal worship. It’s our hope to come to a place of humility and reverence, not fear or guilt, in order to truly give our full selves in worship to God. It’s our hope to recommit ourselves to giving praise to the One who deserves our praise.
So, join us this fall as we seek to wholeheartedly be willing and ready to live for Him in everything we do and everything we say.
Grace & Peace,
