Tag: worship

Posted in Faith Nuggets, Thoughts, Thoughts from Scripture

Obedience of the Small

Posted on by Ann B. Hibbard

Some days I reread my old posts and wonder what I was thinking. Other times, I am encouraged by remembering what God has taught me in the past. This is one of those encouraging lessons.

During my time in the religion department at Ouachita Baptist University, I had the privilege of taking a biblical interpretation course. Dr. Hays taught us to take a passage and see its layers. Simply by reading, reading again, and reading yet again, he showed us how new details could stand out to us even when we thought we had exhausted every avenue of thought in a verse or passage.

Noticing Details

I have not always exercised that developed eye for details, keeping it in shape to see the depths Dr. Hays taught us to see. Even so, there are times when things jump out at me because I have learned to take a second, third, and fourth look at passages.

Take this verse, for instance:

So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed. 2 Chronicles 30:5

This passage rests in the middle of the story of Hezekiah’s reforms. As one of the few “good” kings of Judah, Hezekiah had decided that it was time for the kingdom to return to serving and worshiping God in holiness and purity. In 2 Chronicles 29, we see Hezekiah prodding the less-than-enthusiastic priests and Levites and motivating the people to cleanse their hearts in repentance and worship. It takes a bit of work, but finally we get to the point where the people have been purified, and they are ready to celebrate a nation-wide Passover for the first time in many generations.

So, what stands out to me here? The very end of the verse. “For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed.” (emphasis mine)

Do you know what that indicates?

Some still celebrated.

Celebration of the Few

The temple had been in various states of disrepair over the decades, and many years passed with priests completely unable to perform their duties. Yet it seems that some people possibly still faithfully celebrated the Passover.

If this is true, how must it have felt year after year for those few? They were being faithful. They were being obedient. Yet I cannot help but think that some of them must have longed for something they had never experienced – a Passover like God’s people held in the very beginning. A Passover with the whole community. A Passover in great numbers.

But they did not let those longings keep them from obedience. They persevered. They celebrated. They worshiped. They persisted in obedience. Even when the great numbers focused their attention and energy elsewhere.

We have no details showing us how life was for the small numbers who continued in worship. There is no story chronicling their faithfulness, other than the recognition that prophets still existed and the Word of God was still being proclaimed, even if to mostly deaf ears. But the normal everyday faithful aren’t really even hinted at until this moment, and even here it is just a passing statement that only infers their existence.

What About Us?

It is not glorious to obey in small numbers. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is lonely. It is challenging. It goes unnoticed.

But it is worth it.

Are your numbers small right now? Obey anyway. Do you feel isolated? Stand strong anyway. Is obedience challenging? Obey anyway.

The world may never notice. History may never record your perseverance. But it is worth it. Keep going! The day will come when the great numbers will join you. And I guarantee your joy will be complete in that day!

Posted in Advent, Thoughts from Others

Advent Week 3: Frankincense for Remembering

Posted on by Ann B. Hibbard

Our Advent focus at church continues with the three gifts of Christmas, this week focusing on frankincense. The primary question brought up in this week’s sermon (which you can find here) connected the idea of worship and incense: what “smells” like worship in our lives?

Smell is a very powerful trigger. In an instant, a single odor can take us from joy to anxiety, from depression to comfort. Smell incites physical responses such as allergies or migraines. It triggers emotions. It prompts memories. It activates cravings. It provides warnings and feeds anticipation.

Some people are more sensitive to scents than others. I fall in the “more” category. Things like perfumes or tobacco of any sort can quickly trigger an allergic response or migraine — or both — for me. On the other hand, scents that don’t cause a negative impact can fill me with excitement!

I don’t know that I ever tire of the smell of cinnamon. It’s comfort and health and pleasure and joy and so many other emotions I can’t even name.
The smell of rain after a dry spell is a lifelong treasure.
The smell of snow always makes me smile.
The smell of meat cooking, of a wood fire, of leather, of a new book…

I could go on and on.

As I think about the power of smells and ponder the question of what “smells” like worship in my life, I realize that the things I do — and even my very presence — can have as strong of an impact on others as certain smells.

I’ve always wanted to have a positive impact on people, to be considered a positive presence in their lives. But, I’ve always wrestled with the feeling that I’m the opposite. Growing up, I believed that others didn’t truly like being around me. They just felt obligated for one reason or another (I could always come up with a reason), and if they were left to their preferences, I wouldn’t be wanted. While I do know that was true in some situations, much of that revolved around my own insecurities, and those insecurities have persisted into adulthood.

But as I ponder this question more, I realize that the anxiety I felt about other people stemmed from the fact that my approach was wrong. I am not here to have a positive impact on people. I’m here for one reason and one reason only: to point others to Jesus. That’s it.

The “smell” of my presence in this world should be the “smell” of Jesus.

I know for a fact that I don’t do that well. I’m a perfectionist, and so my “smell” is often that of making sure all of the details line up. My “smell” too frequently makes others feel that they don’t measure up, despite the fact that I’m the one who feels inadequate in most situations. My “smell” is caught up in the here and now. In the details. In things being “right.”

While in some situations the details are important, they are always secondary to Jesus. Always. And that’s what my life should reflect.

I should radiate worship. The love of Christ. The joy of His presence. The comfort of His grace. The power of His forgiveness. The reality of His pure judgment (and never mine!) that is so entwined with everlasting, unfailing love that the two can never be separated. Those things are the smell of worship. The smell of Christ Jesus.

To be honest, I’m not overly enamored by the smell of frankincense. It’s not bad. It doesn’t cause a migraine or trigger my allergies or incite negative emotions. It’s just not a favorite smell. But, I love the idea that, in Old Testament texts, it’s shown as the smell of worship. It was included in almost every worship-based sacrifice, as well as being part of the unique incense blend laid out by God for use in the tabernacle. When the Israelites smelled frankincense, they would think of worship. Every time.

That’s how I want to live my life, as a person who makes others think of worship. Of the presence of Christ. But how do I get there?

By establishing my own reminders to focus on worship throughout each day. The smell of frankincense might not do the trick for me as it did for the Israelites, but there are many other things that can remind me. My job is to let those triggers do their work. To not be numb to them, as we can often become numb to certain sights and smells. To actively respond in worship whenever I encounter the reminders.

I can only draw others to Christ when I am faithfully focusing on Him myself.

Lord, make me like frankincense!

Posted in Advent, Thoughts from Scripture

Advent Week 2: Gold for a King

Posted on by Ann B. Hibbard

We are in the second week of Advent, and our theme at church on Sunday was gold, representing the kingship of Jesus.

We love to focus on Baby Jesus at Christmas. On His vulnerability and all that He surrendered to take on our flesh and walk among us. And we need to remember all that He surrendered. All that He sacrificed. All that He willingly released to humble Himself and come to us. Philippians 2 reminds us of the reason why we need to remember Jesus and His humble entrance into our world: we are to live with the same humility that He showed.

But, in focusing on Him as Baby, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that He came the first time as just a Baby, and that His presence as King will be for next time.

The presence of the Magi in Matthew 2 tells a different story. They brought Him gold and welcomed Him as the born King of the Jews. He’s always been King, from before creation. His birth and time on earth didn’t change that. Baby Jesus was still King.

That was the thrust of Sunday’s sermon (which you can find here). It was nothing new to me. Yet it seems that I have to frequently revisit my own response to this truth. And what I’ve seen of my heart this week has been rather convicting.

As a society, what is our response to “important” people? Whether it’s a ruler or a celebrity, what is our collective dream? Is it not to be seen by them? We get all excited when we get to meet a famous person or when we find out stories about how good or kind they were in a specific situation. We love to see what they give to us.

When it comes to Jesus, He gave everything. He surrendered His glory and entered our pain-filled world so He could walk with us. It is good and right to see what He’s done for us. But, how often do we let that be our primary focus? How He sees us? What He can do for us?

I’ve been struck by several Messianic passages I’ve read lately that discus what it looks like to welcome a King. It’s not just about what He chose to do for us. It’s about how we choose to receive Him.

Psalm 24 reveals the extreme challenge it is for a person to ascend the hill of the Lord. Who among us truly has clean hands, pure hearts, and the sincerity reflected here? None of us, without the righteousness of Jesus! But then, there’s the second half of the song, the half that shows the King coming to us. Remedying the situation by coming to those who seek Him but can’t get to Him on their own.

There’s only one catch: the city has to prepare itself for the coming of the King. The gates have to be lifted to make room! They must be flung open! Work has to be done to welcome in the King of glory!

We see it in Isaiah 40 as well, when the prophet speaks of preparing the way of the Lord by lifting the valleys and leveling the mountains, building a straight highway for the King.

Obviously, none of this is about making the earth a perfect place before Jesus arrives as King. It definitely didn’t happen before His birth! The world was a mess then, and it continues to be a mess now.

But, as I read these passages, I am convicted about the way I approach Him. The way I welcome Him. Yes, I need to celebrate and rejoice in what He has done for me. For us. For this whole world full of people He intimately loves! But, oh how I need to also acknowledge that He is King and I am His subject! I need my focus to be on what it looks like to welcome His presence. After all, He said He would be with us always, even to the end of the age, according to Matthew 28:20. He’s here with me today.

His Kingdom is here, right now. Am I living in it well?
He is returning to claim full victory. Am I doing all I can to prepare for that day?

May I learn to lay my gold before the Lord, day after day after day, focusing my attention and my work on daily recognizing Him as King and choosing to live my life as His beloved subject.

Posted in Thoughts from Life, Thoughts from Scripture

My Purpose?

Posted on by Ann B. Hibbard

I intended to write something new today, but I’m also continuing to work back through old blog posts to see if they can be republished, need to be worked, or should just be tossed. This one caught my attention this morning. I needed this perspective reminder!

I wonder if David ever had writer’s block.

You laugh. But, when I see all that he wrote, I wonder if he ever wanted to write, but couldn’t. I wonder how many of his prayers never saw the light of day.

Last week I tried to write, but I never could accomplish what I wanted to say. So, I let the week slide by without really writing. Then this week.

But now I sit here thinking about David. And I realize something.

David left behind wonderful words, but not because he had to meet writing deadlines or make sure something was up on the tabernacle bulletin board. No, David’s songs were the expression of what welled up inside of him. Was his relationship with the Lord vibrant and whole? Then words of praise flowed. Was he distant and feeling it? Then despair poured from his lips, rising to the only One who could draw him back to vibrancy.

Last week I tried to write simply because I wanted to have something up on my blog. And I did not succeed. I think it was because I forgot this verse:

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

(And just to be contextual here, the audience receiving this instruction was dealing with honoring God in the midst of a pretty messed up society. I think I have it easy.)

Whether David was up or down, his songs pointed to God. They were for His glory. They lifted up His name. They hashed through the human struggle of trusting a God whose ways cannot always be understood. But they always came back to the reminder that His ways are right, whether David understood or not.

David’s songs were for the glory of God.

Did all of David’s actions glorify God? No. Did David always feel like glorifying God? It’s doubtful. But his legacy, his enduring songs, were all written for the glory of God. And David’s life was most right when his actions intentionally honored God.

What are we striving for this week? What is our purpose? Is it to check something off the to-do list? Is it to keep up with a habit we decided to establish in our lives? Is it to meet someone else’s expectations?

How much better will it be if we strive only to glorify God in every little thing?

And I mean everything.

Work, play, hobbies, life necessities…everything.

I am sure David had days in which he wanted to sing a new song, but he was not faithfully singing that new song for God’s glory. And I bet it was harder to sing on those days. Just like it is harder for me to write on those days. Or work. Or play. Or meet my family’s needs. Or do anything.

Let’s get back to 1 Corinthians 10:31 living. No matter what our circumstances, let’s do all to the glory of God. And let’s see how He shines through our efforts.