Broken, or Covered?

Recently, my husband and I were left without kids on a beautiful Saturday morning, so we took full advantage of the situation and went out for a breakfast date. (With three kids, you have to steal time when you can.) After looking over the menu, we placed our order and began to catch up on life. With a cup of hot coffee in my hands, I settled into the conversation and relished each interruption-free moment with my man. But God had a different plan on His agenda that morning, as He often does.

I had a direct view of the kitchen from where I was sitting, and the waiters and waitresses were constantly going back and forth to place or retrieve customer orders. It's pretty fast-paced. One waitress didn't quite make it fully out the door of the kitchen when she lost her footing and fell - several orders on her tray falling along with her. Plates crashed to the ground and shattered. Quickly getting up from the floor, she ran back into the kitchen. Immediately, four other waitresses grabbed dust pans and brooms and began to clean up the mess. I don't think I've ever seen a team move so fast.

They covered for her.

This poor waitress was probably completely humiliated, shaken, and probably beat herself up for not being more careful. She knew orders had to be prepared again, and her customers would probably be upset. We later found out that she was being taken to the doctor to have stitches for a large gash to her hand. She'd had a rough day already, and it wasn't even 9:30 in the morning!

As I sat there watching the clean-up process it occurred to me that I was watching love in action. Actually, the phrase that jumped to my heart was "love covers".

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin." 1 Peter 4:8

Love covers!

It's a simple concept really. When those around us miss the mark, we cover them. We extend grace and mercy to them. We restore them. Sometimes we as the Body of Christ forget that's our mission. We are to co-labor with Christ to restore the people He loves back to His heart. Not through condemnation, but through love and a demonstration of God's goodness. We quickly clean up after one another, and if we need a doctor, or stitches, we drive them to the hospital. We don't kick them while they're down, gossip about them behind their back, or hold them under condemnation "until they get their act together"...whatever that means.

Jesus said something very sobering to the religious establishment of His day. They dressed the part, acted the part, but were completely devoid of love. Jesus' response?

"I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you." Matthew 21:32

We've all seen situations where someone has fallen into sin, and the most brutal beatings often come from those who are supposed to protect us...those who are called "family". It is unfortunate. It was convicting to me to see how quickly the other waitresses covered for their co-worker this morning. If we as the Body of Christ restored others as quickly, wouldn't more people outside of our doors want to come in? Love covers...but it also draws hearts to the Father. We are to be known for our love.

I pray that we as a Body will become like that little group of waitresses this morning. No hesitation, and quick clean-up. We've got tables of our own to wait, you know? There are people starving out there for the love of God.

irresistible worship

Yesterday I had a friend ask me what I thought a corporate worship experience should look like. I made a comment that God believed that worship should be all about Him. We discussed it further, but I still came home pondering that question later.  

What exactly does bless God's heart? What does He find so irresistible that He can't help but show up?

This morning I ran across this section of scripture that describes an amazing encounter with the Presence of God:

"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, 'For He is good, and His mercy endureth for ever': that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God." 2 Chronicles 5:13 KJV

Now this is an excellent picture of a rockin' worship service that occurred when Solomon was dedicating the new temple. Here are the things that really got my attention:

1. The singers and musicians were worshiping the Lord "as one". They were in UNITY.
2. They were doing two things: PRAISING and THANKING the Lord.
3. What were they proclaiming? God's GOODNESS and His MERCY.
4. As a result, the house was filled with His glory, and...
5. The religious establishment (the priests) fell down!

Even though this is an Old Testament picture of a worshipful experience, I still believe it has merit on this side of the Cross. God has called us to worship Him in unity (let them be one as we are One...John 17:22-23). We're called to praise and thank Him for what He's done and is now doing in our lives. We know it is the GOODNESS of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and that His mercy endures forever (Psalm 107:1 NKJV). YES!!!

So, a worship experience that blesses God's heart has these elements: unity, praise, thanksgiving, and acknowledgement of His goodness and mercy. We need to get a revelation of the goodness and mercy of our God before the glory of the Lord call fill our "house" - our heart wherein He dwells. And when the glory of the Lord shows up, the religious spirit falls down! Woo-Hoo!