Worship

I think it's part of our sinful nature that we think of church as being for us rather than for God.

But then again, I wonder... even if we're going to church "for ourselves", if we are able to enter into true worship while there, isn't that the point?

We're called to worship God in all things, throughout the day, waking and sleeping - to be praying without ceasing, to let our lives be an offering of worship to Him. If we are living that Truth daily, is it then even *possible* to go to church "for ourselves"?

And did the early believers (those who knew Christ personally while He was on Earth) ask questions like this? I mean, was it a bad thing for people to follow Jesus around hoping for a look or a touch or a healing, or did He even care about that?

It's always been my opinion that, while a church service is a good time & place to worship God, it is, primarily, a human construction and designed to meet *our* needs, not to fulfill some expectation that God has of us.

Corporate worship serves to provide strength and community to believers, so that they are able to continue in the faith. It is necessary to join with fellow believers in this manner, to build one's faith and spirit, and to receive assistance from the Family of God when in dark times.

That other stuff, the expectation to worship God in the splendour of His Holiness, and the desire to draw near to Him and spend time with Him and develop a relationship with Him - that's more of a private, personal thing, and is done separately from others.

Daily spend time in prayer, just communing with God.

Daily spend time in the Word, learning and slowly growing knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Daily spend time in worship, allowing the awesome presence of the Almighty to cause you to fall to your knees in wonder - be struck dumb at the very *thought* that you are even *permitted* to stand in His presence, and fall facedown in front of His throne, for you are not worthy of His grace, His goodness, His beauty, His mercy.

Daily spend time serving the Lord in whatever fashion He has called you to that day.

And daily spend time in Intercession, requesting God's Perfect Will be done in the lives and situations brought before Him in your prayers.

Yes, these are a part of church... but how much more powerful and beautiful to include them in your day-to-day personal life?