Years ago, I was in England at a large Christian conference. During one seminar, we were led in corporate worship by a guitarist whom I thought was average in every respect.

As he finished what I would describe as a sorry time of worship in song, the elderly gentleman to my side turned my way. With a glowing smile, he asked, “That was simply lovely, wasn’t it?” I wanted to say no, but the Holy Spirit caught my tongue before the answer slipped out.

What I realized was that only one of us had been worshipping God during that time. And it wasn’t me. I was busy worshipping myself, exulting in my knowledge of worship, my experiences, my training, my background. Needless to say, God wasn’t impressed.

“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word “ (Isa 66:2b ESV).

May God grant us grace to truly seek His reputation above our own each time we meet to worship Him.

from Worship Matters, 2005

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Gender-inclusive version:

Years ago, I was in England at a large Christian conference. During one seminar, we were led in corporate worship by a guitarist whom I thought was average in every respect.

As he finished what I would describe as a sorry time of worship in song, the elderly gentleman to my side turned my way. With a glowing smile, he asked, “That was simply lovely, wasn’t it?” I wanted to say no, but the Holy Spirit caught my tongue before the answer slipped out.

What I realized was that only one of us had been worshipping God during that time. And it wasn’t me. I was busy worshipping myself, exulting in my knowledge of worship, my experiences, my training, my background. Needless to say, God wasn’t impressed.

“But this is the one to whom I will look: the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word “ (Isa 66:2b ESV).

May God grant us grace to truly seek God’s reputation above our own each time we meet to worship God.

from Worship Matters, 2005