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Above All
image of God in the believer. ABOVE ALL The worship of the Lord by fallen sinners has, as its end, the restoration of the image of God in us, and this is done so that God will be glorified above all. Our sin resulted in having fallen short of His GLORY. We are told to put on the new man, being remade in righteousness and holiness. We are told that we are predestined to be conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. We are being transformed according to His image, from glory to glory. Many have speculated about what the phrase in Genesis —"image of God"— actually means. Some have thought rationality, others imagination and creativity, some this and some that. But Paul tells us that the image of God is the glory of God in the face of Christ. Our fall into sin defaced the image of God in us, but did not annihilate it. Our rebirth began the long process of restoring that defaced image. Our growth in holiness and righteousness is that process, culminating, not in fussiness and abundance of man-made scruples, but culminating in GLORY. So in everything you do, whether it is singing, or praying, or partaking of the Supper, or hearing the Word, do it ALL to the glory of God. Imitate Christ in your worship. — Douglas Wilson, in EXHORTATIONS: A CALL TO MATURITY IN WORSHIP, Moscow, Idaho: Charles Nolan Publishers, 2000, p. 110. ISBN 0-9677603-1-3. [The author has assembled the calls to worship that were used in his local congregation over the course of several years. Some are exhortations to the worshippers; some are opening prayers; but all come from a desire to prepare worshippers to rightly worship our awesome and loving Heavenly Father.] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |