The Worship Quote of the Week for (05/10/2005):

"Jesus Calls Us" away from Worship and to Worship
I agree with Harold Best (Unceasing Worship, InterVarsity Press, 2003) when he suggests that you and I are unceasing worshipers. The problem is that, too often, we are worshiping the wrong things—ourselves, our desires, or the alluring things around us. Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is a familiar hymn about the lure of the world and the faithful call of Christ. Take a look at verse three, and ponder how our great Savior is calling us away from the idols of this world, asking us to follow Him and love Him.


“JESUS CALLS US”
Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”

As of old Saint Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these!”

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

—Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895), from HYMNS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 1852 (www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jesuscus.htm). This Irish poet wrote over 400 hymns including “Once in Royal David’s City” and “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”


[So, in a way, we need to ask the Lord to deliver us from worship—the worship of the vain world and its ways—and to allow us to know him more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly, day by day.]


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/icw

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