From the very beginning, we see worship as an offering. Abel offered the first fruits of his flock (Genesis 4:4). Abraham offered his only son (Genesis 22:9). David refused to “offer a sacrifice which cost him nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). Jesus, the only son of God, offered his very life (John 10:18).
Who are we to offer less?
Worship has never been about what I “get” out of it but offering what I have to the Lord! Yes, worship is often fulfilling. It heals us and sustains us in the deepest parts. But at its core, worship is an offering. I bring myself, my own meager resources to God – and God himself determines if it’s acceptable or not.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him ~ Habakkuk 2:20
But the children.
I’m chucking goldfish and raisins, hushing unsubtle whispers, snapping my fingers authoritatively and spelling the word Philippians. I’m hoping that it’s not my child (this time at least!) crawling under the pew or my baby taking this quiet reverential moment to speak into the silence. How can I even get my mind in a place where I can think about an incomparable God? To think about offering myself? My heart?
Sometimes we are so lost in the midst of our own exhaustion we forget.
The disciples rebuked the children.
Jesus said, “Let them come unto me” (Matthew 19:13-14)
Here lies a mother’s offering.
In the weekly discipline of bringing her children to worship. In the training of those same children, wrestling tiny hearts and arms and legs. In the offering of her very self, the giving of time and energy to nurture these precious souls. My worship is here in the relinquishing of my own desires and gratification. In these ways, we can learn to be like Christ, to crucify ourselves, as he did first.
It was Robbie Castleman who drew the contrast between teaching our children to “be quiet and good” or “be still and know.”* We are not just trying to get our children to stop wiggling and making noise. We are not just aiming for the time of finally hearing a sermon to “get something” out of worship. My worship lies in the offering of my own heart and teaching my children to know His heart.
Worship is where we bring our chaos (and children) to the father who loves them even more than we do. Here in worship he meets us, knowing that it is in our very weakness that his strength shows.
So bring yourself. Bring your children. The father waits with open arms.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:16
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments ~ Psalm 78:6-7
Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash
*Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman
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