I don't know where I'll be worshiping tomorrow.  I'll be in Harrisburg awaiting the wedding service for Matt Marshall, my nephew, and his fiance Krissy.  I'm co-officiating the service with Krissy's Uncle Rick.  Some would ask, "Well, doesn't that count as a worship service?"  A wedding service is most certainly a worship service--or at least it ought to be, since God is the one who established and sanctified marriage.  But to ask, "Doesn' t that count..." makes worship an item on our to do list that we check off once we've done it, and misses the real purpose and focus.

Worship isn't something we do, so we can say we've done it, like taking a foreign language in high school so we can fulfill the requirement, but never mastering the language so we can actually use it in speaking with someone in that language.   Worship is entering into the presence of God in an intentional way, so we may praise Him, thank Him, acknowledge Him as Lord of all and the source of all good in our lives.  If our only reason for going to worship is to check an item off our to do list then we can be sure we're  practicing religion rather than living out a relationship.  To go back to school analogy, many people go to school because they are required to go by the government and their parents.  They don't see school as an opportunity to learn (and to challenge what the teachers are teaching if it conflicts with what they know is true from God's word, in a polite and respectful way!)  They don't see it as an opportunity to build relationships with brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to share the new life of Jesus Christ with those who are lost.  It's a routine, a requirement.  When worship or school or ANYTHING in life is a religion--meaning a set of rituals, routines,traditions, and requirements we'll miss the joy of participating in it, and we'll find reasons to avoid it rather than pursue it.

One place where the worship-school analogy breaks down is we can choose any of a hundred different worshiping communities, while our choice of schools is somewhat limited.  While I'm in Harrisburg, I'm sure I'll find no shortage of churches that are holding (or celebrating!) worship services on Sunday morning.  The challenge is to find one where they celebrate God's presence and are pursuing a vital relationship with Him, rather than simply practicing religion.  I can (and have) worship(ed) God anywhere and in any situation, but I prefer worshiping at New Life, because I know our goal is always to enjoy God's grace and extend His glory through our worship and all other aspects of our life together.  Hopefully, I'll find a "New Life" in Harrisburg.  If I do worship will be easier.  If I don't I won't be worshiping to check that item off the to do list, but because I want to celebrate God's grace and glory in my life. 

I hope you'll be at worship at New Life tomorrow if you're in the Saxonburg area.  Pastor Brad has prepared a great message about resting in God and why God calls us to rest (I've had a sneak preview!), and you can always count on the people of New Life to be welcoming and seeking to worship the one, true and living God!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for being worthy of worship, for being the one, true and living God!  Thank You for calling us into relationship with You, and for making worship a time when we can praise You and pursue that relationship.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live full and abundant lives worshiping You always and learning moment by moment to Your glory and honor.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.