There is a genuine worship that God desires. Not the kind that depends on how I’m feeling; or the kind that is determined by circumstances. No, it’s the kind “when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way” (v. 23b). He is seeking out that genuine worship that comes from the depths of the heart and soul, even in the midst of trials. A genuine worship based solely on who He is.
How does one get this kind of worship? The answer is certainly not the one we want, nor is it the one we like. Yet, there is only one way - through trials. Unpopular? Yep! Ridiculous? Certainly! Yet it is very clear the only way to produce a genuine worship, a genuine faith, is to be desperate for it; and the only way we can be that desperate, is to be placed in situations that will cause us to get to the end of ourselves and cry out to the only One who can rescue us - Jesus!
Listen to what Peter wrote, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
First off, Peter tells us up front we will rejoice “in this”. In what? In the fact that, for just a little while, we will be grieved by various trials. Rejoice in trials? No thanks! I would really rather not. I don’t see myself running to sign up for trials and trouble. Yet, Peter says there is a rejoicing to be had. Then he inserts, if necessary. That just rocks my world because it tells me that it may not be necessary. Hmmm...it makes me realize that Jesus is after one thing - His glory in and through you; and whatever is necessary to produce a genuine worship out of you, He is willing to allow because He loves you enough not to let you stay as you are. There is no way to explain how the pain is worth it, but I can tell you with all my heart - it is! I promise!
On this side of all the trials God carried me through, I would not trade my life for anything! Not the loss of my children. Not the depression. Not the near destruction of my marriage. Had it not been for the loss of my children I would have never known God’s Peace, Power and Glory! Had it not been for the death grip of depression, I would have never known how capable He was of renewing my mind and snatching me from the depths of darkness. Had it not been for the near destruction of my marriage, to the point of true hopelessness, I would have never known that God is capable of restoring and rebuilding anything and making it new again! When I think about LORD, how He healed me, how He saved me, how He loved me - I completely lose my mind and nothing but genuine worship comes out!
Can you imagine the woman at the well?! Ostracized for her lifestyle, having been with 6 men, and here is this Jesus who loves her so well, she becomes free to tell everyone about Him and about all He has done for her! That’s genuine worship!
You can’t heal what doesn’t hurt; or restore what hasn’t been lost or torn down! It is out of the ashes of life that genuineness arises!
The Father is looking for those who [are willing to go through it with Him so that they] will worship him that way. (v. 23c)
How does one get this kind of worship? The answer is certainly not the one we want, nor is it the one we like. Yet, there is only one way - through trials. Unpopular? Yep! Ridiculous? Certainly! Yet it is very clear the only way to produce a genuine worship, a genuine faith, is to be desperate for it; and the only way we can be that desperate, is to be placed in situations that will cause us to get to the end of ourselves and cry out to the only One who can rescue us - Jesus!
Listen to what Peter wrote, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
First off, Peter tells us up front we will rejoice “in this”. In what? In the fact that, for just a little while, we will be grieved by various trials. Rejoice in trials? No thanks! I would really rather not. I don’t see myself running to sign up for trials and trouble. Yet, Peter says there is a rejoicing to be had. Then he inserts, if necessary. That just rocks my world because it tells me that it may not be necessary. Hmmm...it makes me realize that Jesus is after one thing - His glory in and through you; and whatever is necessary to produce a genuine worship out of you, He is willing to allow because He loves you enough not to let you stay as you are. There is no way to explain how the pain is worth it, but I can tell you with all my heart - it is! I promise!
On this side of all the trials God carried me through, I would not trade my life for anything! Not the loss of my children. Not the depression. Not the near destruction of my marriage. Had it not been for the loss of my children I would have never known God’s Peace, Power and Glory! Had it not been for the death grip of depression, I would have never known how capable He was of renewing my mind and snatching me from the depths of darkness. Had it not been for the near destruction of my marriage, to the point of true hopelessness, I would have never known that God is capable of restoring and rebuilding anything and making it new again! When I think about LORD, how He healed me, how He saved me, how He loved me - I completely lose my mind and nothing but genuine worship comes out!
Can you imagine the woman at the well?! Ostracized for her lifestyle, having been with 6 men, and here is this Jesus who loves her so well, she becomes free to tell everyone about Him and about all He has done for her! That’s genuine worship!
You can’t heal what doesn’t hurt; or restore what hasn’t been lost or torn down! It is out of the ashes of life that genuineness arises!
The Father is looking for those who [are willing to go through it with Him so that they] will worship him that way. (v. 23c)
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