A Compelled or Committed Disciple?…Dec. 29th

mowing the lawnAs a young boy I remember my parents telling me, “You don’t have to do the chores, you get to.”  My opinion was not that I was being honored by the work, but I was being compelled to do it.  My dad’s opinion was just the opposite.  If I wanted the benefits of eating mom’s cooking and the privilege of sleeping in a warm bed, then I would show my commitment to the family.  I would get to do my chores.  We often see what lies before us as a ‘have to’ task.  But is that our focus in the church? 

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a certain man who helped Jesus carry His cross, Simon of Cyrene.  But as you read the passage, he wasn’t a ‘put me in coach, I’m ready to play’ type of guy.  He was “…pressed into service to bear the cross.”  (Matthew 27:32)  Though we don’t know his heart, Simon was compelled to serve.  As a disciple of Christ, are you pressed into service or are you doing your task because you’re committed to the family? 

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, December 29, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“I Stand in Awe” 96

A song to open our worship to God which calls upon us to proclaim our adoration to Him.  To not only say “Holy God”, but to stand in awe of Him.  We’ll stand physically, but how is your posture spiritual?  When the world sees you outside of Sunday morning, do you stand in awe of Him? 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” – 589

This old song will transition us from standing in awe of our Father to the realization that I can’t stand without Him.  And I’m not alone.  Each of us, when we’re truthful, know we must lean on His arms.  When we understand that (when we sing it), we’re in fellowship. holy holy holy

“Holy, Holy, Holy” – 47

This old hymn, sung to Him, echoes the scene from Revelation 4 as we sing around the throne of God.  ‘Holy, Holy, Holy!”  For our edification we’ll have the soprano sing the first verse and add each part as we sing each verse.  not to miss the message notice the third verse, “…tho (even though) the darkness hide Thee, Tho the eye of sinful man Thy glory can not see (even though sinful man can not see Your glory…only You are Holy).  Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, perfect in power, in love and purity.”

“Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” – 319

As we consider the topic for this morning, and as we prepare our minds and hearts for the Lord’s Supper, we sing this about service.  Written over 300 years ago, this message calls believers to ‘take up the cross’ (Matt. 16) and serve!  Jesus carried the cross so we could see resurrection day.  Are we willing to “deny himself (ourselves), take up his (our) cross and follow Me” (Jesus)?

“Beneath the Cross” – 314

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand…”  Do you know what you’re singing?  What did you mean when you said I would “fain” take my stand beneath Jesus’ cross?  The poetry is saying, ‘I’m glad to stand up for the death of Jesus.’  What about, “O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet, O trysting place where heaven’s love and heaven’s justice meet.”  Trysting place…what is that mean?  By definition; an agreed upon place where two come together.  In this song, heaven’s love and heaven’s justice met at Calvary.

“I Want to Be a Worker” – no book

Before our lesson this morning it seems only fitting to sing about being a worker.  How we will work is our own, individual decision.  The verses give us some suggestions; “I want to be a worker (who will) love and trust His holy word…I want to be a worker every day…I want to be a worker strong and brave.”  The chorus is our proclamation, “I will work, I will pray in the vineyard of the Lord!”

“Where He Leads Me I Will Follow” – 876

Not under compulsion, but willingly do we sing this song, “Where He leads me I will follow…”  A simple song that indicates my life in Christ, my work in His kingdom, is not compelled but committed.

“To the Work, To the Work” – no book

We’ll conclude our together with a song that encourages us to get out there and get to work.  We’re not made to bear His cross and we don’t have to ‘do our chores’, but as ‘servants of God’, disciples of Christ, we must be committed!  The chorus is a beautiful echo of unity, “Toiling on, toiling on…let us hope, trust, watch, pray and labor till the Master comes.” Christ will return and we’ll either be serving because we had to, or because we wanted to.