Ponderings

Devotionals, prayer & insights from my Bible reading

The Act of Worship (Prayer devotional for the week of May 1)

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ACT I:  SCENE ONE

(GREETER stands near a doorway. A downcast family of four approaches led by MOTHER, who is adjusting the collar of her son’s shirt. FATHER follows, holding a toddler.)

GREETER

(smiling at the family) Well, good morning! How are you folks today?

MOTHER

(obviously exasperated, but quickly turns her scowl into a smile and makes eye contact with GREETER, responding with a falsely chipper tone of voice) Oh, fine, fine. And you?

GREETER

(shaking FATHER’s hand) Glad to hear it. I’m doing well, thanks.

(FATHER offers a half-smile and walks across the stage with toddler. MOTHER stops to smooth her son’s hair and wipes an imaginary smudge from his cheek with her thumb. He starts to shrug away, but she takes his hand and leads him reluctantly off-stage.)

—

Is the story above just the beginning of a stage play, or could it describe many of our own families this morning? We wake up late. The kids are whining for donuts. Someone can’t find socks. The kids are fighting in the backseat. We’re in a rush. Our favorite parking spot in the shade is taken. The kids are still fighting.

Then, we walk through the doors of the church, plaster on happy faces and act like nothing is the matter. We’re here to worship God, after all – no frowns allowed! Let’s be real. God sees right through our fake smiles. Worship shouldn’t be a performance. In fact, the prophet Isaiah once received a warning from God in a vision, and God told his people: “Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games …” (from Isaiah 1, The Message)

This week’s focus is on making excuses, so let’s quit acting and drop the charade. Instead, let’s make our lives an act of worship.

Seder meal

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Earlier this month, we got into a conversation at Life group about Easter, Passover and the traditional Seder meal celebrated in the Jewish faith. Only one or two people in the room had ever participated, so we decided to do one together. It has been several years since I participated in a Seder meal, and I’ve never led one myself before now, but I enjoyed the chance to re-learn the various components of the ceremonial meal and share the experience with the group.

The Seder meal is a traditional, ceremonial dinner that Moses instructed the Israelites to conduct in remembrance of the Passover every year (see Exodus 12). Each part of the meal is symbolic, from the vegetable dipped in salt water to represent the Israelites’ tears while they were in slavery to the lamb that represents blood sacrifice for sin.

Our rendition of the meal was less formal than a traditional Seder probably would be, but it went over well, and everyone seemed to appreciate the history/cultural/spiritual lessons woven throughout. We ended our meal with communion together, which was a nice way to wrap up our time together and celebrate our risen savior.