15-5

Focus on God's Attributes

What I'm about to say is so simple it almost seems silly. Truthfully it would be silly if we weren't so bad at it. So here is a revelation that I am sure will shock you to the core of your being: "Heaven's worship is not focused on us but solely on God." I know, shocking right? "The result is pure ascription-worship that is obsessed with God's intrinsic worth and ascribes to God alone the glory and honor due Him. There are no personal pronouns recorded in heaven's worship- no 'me,' no 'my,' no 'I.' Instead, the names and attributes of God are front and center: 'Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen' (Revelation 7:12). Everyone in heaven is so enamored with God that they don't waste a single moment thinking only about themselves." This type of worship reminds us that we are not the center of the universe, God is.

In heaven, "God is worshiped not only for who He is but also for what He's done." Heaven's worship is overflowing with thanksgiving. It is hard not to be filled with thanksgiving when you are thinking of who God is and what He has done for you! "Praise and thanksgiving go hand in hand; they are the lifeblood of Christian worship, a natural response to God, for all He' done and continues to do."

It sounds simple, but it is not easy. This is because, "human beings are notoriously self-centered, always looking out for number one. All too often, we put our emotional needs ahead of the needs of others, sometimes at the expense of others. Our bottom line for everything-whether it be work, relationships, marriage, or even church-is too often, 'What's in it for me?' Sometimes we are even thinking about ourselves while we are singing. The truth is "I can sing praise songs at the top of my lungs with hands in the air with all my thoughts centered on me." Ever been there? "When the words coming from my lips are contradicted by what's happening in my mind and heart, I have failed to worship God."

D.A. Carson says, "We cannot ascribe to the Lord all the glory due His name if we are consumed by self-love or intoxicated by pitiful visions of our own greatness or independence."

Worship that is pure ascription takes our eyes off of us and places them where they belong...on God. Therefore worship is something that we offer God. "It's not a show the church puts on to make us feel good or to motivate us. Worship is something we do to honor God."

Some of us can't go through a single worship time without finding something to complain about. "Our heavenly father doesn't care for complaining; it offends him. Note His reaction to the people of Israel: 'And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled' (Numbers 11:1). Complaining is an insult to God. It's like saying, 'God, I don't trust that You're good. I think You're holding out on me, and I can't be happy unless You give me what I want.' Truth is, God has never let us down and He never will. 'And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace' (John 1:16).

Contrast that with gratitude. Complaining offends God, but gratitude pleases Him. Over and over in the Bible we are commanded to be grateful to God! Why? Because we are so quick to forget the things that He has done for us. We have a tendency to take God for granted. "Followers of Christ are called to be worshipers, not complainers."

Mark Batterson writes, "There are basically two types of people in the world: complainers and worshipers. And there isn't much circumstantial difference between the two. Complainers will always find something to complain about. Worshipers will always find something to praise God about. They simply have different default settings." Thanksgiving is the antidote for discontent.

Are you having trouble being thankful? "If the only blessing we ever received from God was salvation through Jesus Christ, that would certainly be enough." But God has given us so much more than that, and for most of us He has blessed us far beyond what we deserve!

So this week be on the lookout for names and attributes of God as we worship together. Focusing on the names and attributes of God will curb our negativity. Our author writes, "I've discovered that church folk can also be some of the most negative people you'll ever meet. They complain about the most trivial things. At one church where I worked, a man sent the pastor a note complaining that the cookie he received at the welcome booth on Sunday morning was 'too soggy.' Another groused that our worship leader said 'exult' instead of 'exalt.' (I honestly couldn't hear the difference.) Nothing draws more complaints from churchgoers than the music. Music is highly subjective; people have strong feelings about what they like and dislike. So you're bound to hear some songs in church you don't like and might even hate. You may also be subjected to music that is played or sung poorly. I once heard a worship band go through an entire song playing in two different keys-and no one on the platform even appeared to notice. Most church musicians are good-hearted amateurs. They mean well, but that doesn't mean they always play well. That's why it's important to concentrate on the message, not the messengers. If you're tuned in to the attributes of God, you will be able to worship regardless of the style or quality of the music."

My hope is that what drives you on Sunday mornings is not your love for the music we do, but your love for God. So this week, spend time throughout the service giving thanks to God for all He is doing and has done in your life. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Remember that we are in the presence of God. "We worship the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit." "So as you walk into church, think of yourself as an active participant, not a casual observer, in the fellowship of the Trinity. In short, think of yourself as a vibrant worshiper."

Enjoy the Journey