Stuck in a Rut

One of the (many) things that amaze me when I read the Gospels is that Jesus had to repeat Himself so often.  With the Pharisees, He had to remind time and again that they misunderstood what the Sabbath was all about.  One more than one occasion, He had to explain that their preoccupation with appearances is not what God wants from His people.  They were stuck in their way of “worshipping” God.

          Even with His own disciples, Jesus had to remind them over and over again what true faith was all about.  They thought that they were honoring God by doing many things, but they often looked at these things from a worldly perspective.  Jesus even told Simon Peter after his great confession that he had his mind set on the things of man and not those of God.  They did not always worship God the way He wanted.

          You might say that both the Pharisees and the disciples were stuck in a worship rut.  They all got used to their certain way of “honoring” God.  Many of the Pharisees were permanently stuck in their rut.  The disciples, over time and through some hard lessons, all learned that worshiping God in “spirit and in truth” meant that they all needed to approach Him differently than the way they were comfortable with.  Jesus made sure He got them out of their rut.

          What about us?  Now, there will be times when we realize we are stuck in a rut and we can pull ourselves out.  Maybe our prayer life is lacking.  Maybe we realize that the pastor’s Sunday sermons have not been coming home with us.  Or maybe we catch our minds wandering during worship.  These things, once noticed, can be overcome with simple repentance and focusing our hearts back on God.  This is what the disciples were able to do.

          But the Pharisees: they did not think their way of “worshipping” was in any way wrong.  They did not repent and refocus, because it never crossed their minds that what they were doing could not be God-honoring.  Brothers and sisters, whether we care to admit it or not: we are Pharisees sometimes.  We have our way of doing things on Sunday.  Do you suffer through worship to get to the sermon?  Do you sing your heart out to God during worship, then just look at your watch until the sermon is finally over?  Are you hearing the prayers offered up but not listening because you are really just hoping to make it home for kick-off?  Are you running out as the last “Amen” is said instead of sharing some fellowship with your brothers and sisters?  Do you believe that there is nothing wrong with any of this?

          Will every worship song compel us to raise our hands?  No.  Will every sermon leave us feeling as if God had a special message just for us?  No.  Does God desire that I worship Him?  Yes.

          This week, here is all I ask: will you get out of your rut tomorrow?  If you are one of those stand and read the lyrics kind of guys, I encourage you to sing your heart out tomorrow, because you are singing to Him.  Maybe you should even try (gasp!) clapping or raising your hands to God!  He wants to hear you sing to Him!  I encourage you to hear, really hear, the message God is going to give through the preacher tomorrow and realize that it is for you.  He wants you to hear Him speak to you.  Find what He has for you in that sermon!  I encourage you to hear every word prayed and pray it yourself to God as the words are spoken.  God wants to hear you speak to Him!  Then, once service is over, let the corporate worship continue.  I encourage you to stay after the service is over tomorrow, wherever you go to church, and greet your brothers and sisters.  Even if that means a hug or handshake on your way out the door, you will be surprised how God will encourage you through it.  And remember, God does not dwell in houses made by hands, and my final encouragement is this: don’t let the worship stop at the church door.  Pray to Him, hear Him, and sing to Him all week, and you will truly find strength to get you through!