One thing that becomes undeniably apparent when you study the topic of worship in Scripture is that what we gather to do on Sundays is entirely a gift of grace from beginning to end.
Time and time again, throughout human history, we image-bearers of God have broken our solemn covenant by offering worship to created things rather than to Him, the Creator. And yet, at every wrong turn, while we were cursing Him and rightly deserving exile unto destruction, He made new provisions by which we would be restored and our worship be made pleasing in His sight again. Just as He made clothing for Adam and Eve, the sacrificial system for Israel, and the Temple for the days of Solomon, so today He graciously counters our idolatries with the Church’s liturgy of worship.
When we worship together, the call (to worship) counters the lure of opposing, idolatrous delights.
The gathering opposes our scattered, Babel-like rebellion, in which we seek to make names for ourselves apart from our communal identity as God’s people.
Jesus’ sacrifice counters our stain of sin.
Further, Jesus mediates access to God’s presence and leads us back through the flashing swords of judgment, and into a new Eden.
Our sacrifice is no longer an offering for guilt or atonement, but for praise and obedience.
His Word and Spirit are provisions for our life and salvation in Him, again countering alternative calls of idolatry.
Our prayers and songs counter the groaning despair of a world that is lost and dying; they are a foretaste and rehearsal of the ceaseless, joyful cries of heaven.
Tithes and offerings counter our greed, reminding us that we are stewards who will give an account.
The sacraments of baptism and communion are means of grace by which we are nourished and reassured of our peace with God and man.
And, finally, the benediction is God’s good word of blessing–to prosper and defend us for His glory and our peace.
To willfully neglect Sunday’s gathering is to reject these and so many other provisions that God has graciously given to counter the work of the Enemy who tirelessly seeks to kill, steal, and destroy the good work begun by our Creator-Redeemer. The longer we abandon the gospel liturgy of worship, the more like the god of this world we will become. Sunday is the Lord’s Day and yet we are its beneficiaries when we submit to the kind of rest it commands.
And so, with the psalmist, I exhort you, friends: “Come, let us worship and bow down! Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” (Ps. 95:6-7)
Your brother,
Ryan