Let Us Draw Near

I step onto the platform, pick up my microphone, adjust my monitor and take a deep breath.

All of the people in the congregation are looking at me.  They're waiting for me to begin.  It is my job to lead them, to usher them into the presence of the Almighty.

The responsibility is great. The privilege is unspeakable!
And yet, if I'm not careful, I can go through the motions without considering . . .
        without considering
                 my desperate depravity apart from Christ
        without considering
                 that the King has invited me to His throne room
        without considering
                 the generations of men and women before  
                 Christ came, who could not even imagine having the 
                 opportunity to enter God's presence 

Yesterday, as I prepared to lead another group of brothers and sisters in worship, I found myself prayerfully asking "Why?"

Why do we worship?
Do we sing songs of praise at the beginning of our church services just because . . . well, because it's what we've always done?
And what if . . . 
        What if I don't FEEL like worshiping?!

Then what? Do I just go through the motions anyway?

God promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him.  When we gather together to worship, we are seeking God.  We are entering His presence and when we do that,  He promises we will find Him.

We will see our God more clearly.  We will understand more fully His character - His love & compassion, His greatness & sovereignty,
His glory.

And THAT is why we worship. 

We worship because we can do nothing but.

Because this God that I have sought and found, He looks at me -
           
           self-centered, proud, impatient, inconsiderate me

and He sees Jesus!

Just writing those words causes the breath to catch in my throat.

When God looks at me, He sees Jesus in me.

He doesn't see my filth or my brokenness . . .

"For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever
those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
“This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds."
Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”
Hebrews 10:14-17

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:19-20

How can we possibly encounter God and not fall on our face in awe?!
How can I possibly lead worship simply going through the motions?!
How can I take lightly the privilege of approaching the throne of grace?!

I cannot!
I MUST NOT!

And so, if I don't FEEL like worshiping, then I obviously haven't encountered God, which means I obviously haven't sought God, which means the problem is me
     not the band
     not the  pastor
     not my children's poor behavior
     not sleep deprivation
     and certainly not God!
The problem is definitely me1

In a few days, I will find myself once again stepping onto the platform.  I will again pick up my microphone and adjust my monitor.  Then I will close my eyes, take a deep breath, and whisper a prayer of gratitude that the God of all Creation has invited me to draw near to Him.  And I will worship.