Embracing Wholehearted Worship in Seasons of Frustration

As we enter the Christmas season at Roswell Community Church, we're presented with a unique opportunity to delve into the true meaning of this time. We are people born for longing and desire, and the church calendar, with seasons like Advent, reflects this fundamental aspect of our nature. Our story is inherently one of desire, and we are created to long for and want God.

The Nature of Worship: James K.A. Smith, a respected professor and author, argues that we often misunderstand worship in two ways. We either make it overly intellectual, viewing ourselves as "brains on a stick," or we reduce it to mere feelings, treating worship like a pill we take for emotional satisfaction. Smith contends that both approaches miss the mark. Instead, he proposes that we are "desiring creatures," and worship is fundamentally about stewarding our desires towards what is good and holy.

The Power of Desire: Our desires are incredibly powerful and multifaceted. This truth is not lost on marketers and retailers. A former Adidas executive revealed that their goal isn't just to sell products, but to create "objects of desire" that tap into human psychology and influence consumer behavior. Similarly, our spiritual desires are complex and often reveal deeper needs than what appears on the surface.

Frustration Reveals Our Hearts: When we experience frustration, our true desires and what we worship often come to the surface more quickly. In times of peace and comfort, our desires can be subtle and layered. But when we're pressed, when life is difficult, our needs become more apparent. Frustration makes us acutely aware of our need for salvation and what we believe will truly save us.

God's Response to Our Worship: In Isaiah 66, we see God addressing two groups of people: those seeking to love the Lord and those who were corrupt religious officials. God rejects the worship of those who are merely going through the motions without true heart engagement. Their sacrifices, though technically correct, are as offensive to God as profane acts. Instead, He looks to those who are humble, contrite in spirit, and tremble at His word.

The Danger of Pride: One of the greatest threats to wholehearted worship is our own pride. As we grow in knowledge and experience with God, we must be careful not to become prideful, thinking we have it all figured out. This pride can disconnect us from the true state of our hearts and hinder our worship.

Diagnostic Questions for Our Hearts: To assess the state of our hearts and our worship, we can ask ourselves:

1. Do we truly love the Lord?
2. What do we orient our lives around?
3. What do we make time for, despite being busy?
4. What's preventing us from loving God?
   
   

These questions can help us identify areas where we may have drifted from wholehearted worship and guide us back to a place of humility and trembling at God's Word.

God's Impossible Grace: God responds to our humble, repentant worship with what can only be described as impossible grace. In Isaiah 66, we see promises of God bringing forth salvation for His people in a way that defies natural understanding. This impossible grace manifests in three ways:

1. Provision: God promises to provide for His people's needs, likened to a mother nursing her child.
2. Transformation: He promises to comfort His people, changing them from those who mourn to those who rejoice.
3. Salvation: God promises to protect His people from their enemies, ultimately referring to sin and evil.
   
   

As we approach the communion table as a local church, we're reminded of the intersection between our need for salvation and God's promises. At the cross, we find forgiveness for our sins, comfort through the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of both present and future salvation. We are simultaneously needy and sinful, yet perfect and transformed through Christ's work.

Let us center our worship on this truth, acknowledging our imperfections while embracing God's impossible grace. May we seek to love God with our whole hearts, asking Him to help us where we fall short, and trusting in His promises even when they seem impossible in our circumstances.