| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Sanctification” Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV) Our thought for today: “Worship nourishes your soul” In his excellent devotional book, “A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living,” Alan Fadling offers this insightful thought about the impact our Sunday morning corporate worship should have on the rest of our life Monday through Saturday: “When we gather for worship, the most important thing happening is not just the amazing activity of a few trained and gifted leaders (preacher, singers, musicians) but the opportunity for us all to refresh our vision of God and respond to the goodness, beauty, and truth of this God we see more clearly. We learn to discern God’s presence and see that presence more truly so that we can respond with worship in all our moments.” In other words, our times of corporate worship on Sunday morning should lead us into an encounter with God that is so profound and impactful, that it contributes to what Paul was calling for in Romans 12:1 – a Monday through Saturday lifestyle that is itself a profound act of worship. Corporate worship, at its best, leads us into an encounter with God that we can then take with us into the rest of life. This contributes to the process of progressive sanctification and as a result, we will have grown just a little more in our spiritual maturity. The story is told of the old deacon who encountered a fellow church member in the grocery store, but it was a church member who had not been in church for a long time. The deacon asked him why he had stopped coming to church and the man responded by saying, “I have been attending church for decades, singing the songs and listening to the sermons. But one day I realized I couldn’t even remember most of the songs I have sung, and I remember very few of the sermons I have heard. It was then that I decided I was wasting my time. So, I decided to just stay home and sleep late on Sunday mornings.” To that the old deacon replied, “Well, I have been married for more than fifty years. My wife has prepared a good meal for me almost every night of those fifty years but honestly, I can’t remember most of them. However, each one of them nourished my body and if I had not eaten them, my body would have been withered and weak. The weekly worship services are like that. They nourish your soul, and if you aren’t getting that nourishment, your soul will be withered and weak.” That’s a great illustration and it speaks of an important truth. Our corporate worship services are encounters with the Living God. They nourish our souls and keep us spiritually healthy. They lead us into an encounter with God that we can then take with us out into the rest of our Monday through Saturday life. I encourage you not to skip church. Worship nourishes your soul. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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