Worship

In the reading, it touches on two aspects of worship and that is the joy in worshiping and the worship that exist in our formal/informal settings. In the scripture for this reading, the first word that processed in my head was the word "devoted". When defining the word "devotion", I related that word to words like "affectionate" and "selfless". These synonyms can't function or apply alone, but requires other bodies to complete it's meaning. I agree that worship in Church is as important and ought to happen as much outside of Church on Sundays as well. Breaking off into smaller groups and sharing allows us to engage with one another as that group, or body. As people relate and encourage one another, I feel the worship occurs when we devote ourselves to God through that body. Now from an intimate setting to a bigger body, we can come to Sunday worship with prepared hearts and attitude. For example, a football team during the weekdays train/focus in smaller groups. Offense and defense are coordinated by coaches of that section of the team. Once the weekend comes, they come together as one team to fight for that victory every week. Throughout the season, the individual players work hard on the different areas of their weaknesses, but not alone because the team and its organization is there to support each individual to become that stronger body. We on the other hand are guaranteed that victory in the end promised by God. (1 Cor 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.") Because of this truth, it is a no brainer that we should come feeling outbursts of joy every Sunday morning when we worship. I know that if I surrender myself and place my pure utter dependency on Him, victory will always follow my footsteps into the endzone. Just like how those athletes celebrate with a touchdown dance, or putting up their hands, I feel I should be compelled to respond as well having felt victory and celebrate with joy through the act of worship. I'll have to think of a victory dance now. Perhaps, everybody should have one now that softball seasons coming up... hehe. I thought it was amusing that the reading mentioned how worship can be easily mistaken for a funeral service. Those football games on Super Bowl Sunday I'm sure won't have a single seat with somebody standing like a zombie falling asleep, because of their passion, love, and devotion to/for the game. Just like how its mentioned in the reading, if we came on Sundays with wonder and humility, that defines what we call worship. I believe if we can continue to come together as a body, formally and informally with exuberant joy, we would also have a better understanding of the word that we take on and proclaim in our everyday lives, known as "devotion".