Oh, Worship the King!

Oh, worship the King, all glorious above!
Oh, gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.  (Sir Robert Grant)

I have been learning quite a few things about 'worship' in the past few days, thanks to my daily devotional guide. Let me share what the Holy Spirit has been teaching me in this regard. Basically from childhood, I was raised in a staunch evangelical Christian background, with a passion for Jesus Christ. Church going, Sunday school, salvation experience, witnessing etc., were much part of the Christian disciplines, my parents and my church have nurtured me in. In recent years as a family we were 'led' by the Holy Spirit, through some changing circumstances,to enjoy the sweet communion of the Triune God, in deeper ways.

Added to our Bible teachers and pastors , one strong influence had been the morning devotional guide, we were using for over twenty years. ( Every Day with Jesus, CWR, UK). It was introduced by a close family member to us. Tremendous is the amount of sound biblical truths, we learn from it. From my personal reflections based on these truths regarding 'worship', comes this blog. It may be enjoyable to people like me, who have grown as children and youngsters, to adhere to rigid 'order of services.' in church worship . Worshiping in private and in church services have become dearer to my heart  and richer only in the past few years. Hence I am sharing!!

ABIDING IN

Sometime back I was preparing for a message on John Chapter 15, and the Lord taught me certain things from the first half of that chapter. Let me share these glimpses I received, in my blog of today.

Lord Jesus was telling the disciples about who He was, in a way they would understand.He had told them the 'Great I AM' sayings. I have learnt that of the SEVEN such sayings given in John's gospel, the last one is found in 15:1; I AM the true vine. I believe that all the sayings bring forth the fact that Lord Jesus revealed that He was the LORD GOD appeared in human form.Therefore in each of them a 'covenant relationship' is brought forth which spreads from time to eternity. He would do certain thing and in turn His children are prompted by His love, to respond in a particular fashion. I was attracted by this fact.

v.4,5 ... abide in me, and I in you. (The vine and the branches)

What happens? Since we abide / remain in the 'person' of Jesus, we bring forth 'much fruit'. There is abundant harvest when we remain steadfastly in Him. For every obedience, Jesus returns to us 'a full and overflowing measure.'He never sends His disciples, friends as He terms, empty handed. Our love for Jesus enables us to respond and He comes to us in ways we cannot comprehend. We give 'much fruit', tells me that we bloom to the fullest measure of our destiny in Jesus. In short, the reason why we live is justified.

v.7... abide in me, and my words in you.

The promise : Ask what you will,and it shall be done to you. Since we remain in Jesus, He remains in us, as 'The Word' and it is able to create answers for our prayers as it was 'in the beginning'/creation. Our emptiness is filled by His bounty.When we abide in Him, we ask according to His will and purpose and He guarantees 'answered prayers'.

v.8 ... In all the above, Father God is glorified. This confirms that we are the 'disciples of Jesus'. We seek the Father's glory, as Jesus did.

v.9,10 ... Remain in my love, Jesus said. Jesus loved us, as the Father loved him.

How do we reflect? We keep Jesus' commandments to us. It is not, (to me) that I am saved by grace to live as I please; but to obey my Savior in all I think, say and do.Jesus loved me while I was unworthy of His love. He bestowed His grace on me; I am constrained to obey His rules, by his love that enables me to love Him, as much as I could. 

        v.11 ... His joy remains in me, and my joy is full. That is why Jesus is asking me to remain in Him, His words and His love.

How wonderful is Jesus? 'What a wonderful Savior is He?' What else do I need?

My heart sings along with the writer of this hymn which I learnt , as a teen aged student in Lady Doak College, Madurai during the years 1966-1969 :

 'I've found a friend, O such a friend,He loved me ere I knew Him.
  He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him.
  And in my heart still closely twine, those ties which naught can sever,
  For I am His and He is mine forever and forever.'   

Hallelujah!! Amen!!