Some are loyal members of a favorite clothing or food store.
Retailers have learned many of us will develop a loyalty to a brand or store if there is the added value of a bonus or benefit. Businesses track our visits and purchases and reward us for our regular patronage with discounts, sales, and complimentary giveaways.
Unfortunately, this consumer contract spills over into other areas of our lives. Sometimes, we are guilty of translating faithful worship into some sort of bonus program that rewards us because we have been loyal and dedicated in our Christian walk. We feel we should have special treatment or a free pass around hardship and crisis. We should not expect spiritual brownie points for regular, faithful worship.
We sometimes sound immature with our "what did I do to deserve this" attitude. We should not step into Christianity as though we are balancing the books against sins of the past. Accepting grace is a humble step of faith that accepts Jesus' sacrifice.
Next time we are in the pew, we need to thank God for calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our loyalty membership has been paid for on the cross. There is no need for twenty more visits to worship to earn anything. We are the holy adopted children of God. We cannot credit ourselves with great faith; it is wholly attributable to God.
We are loyal members, not proud ones, but ones with humble and grateful hearts. Our rewards program is that we are the children of God, ushered into His presence by the salvation work of Jesus Christ.
Realize more every day what a precious privilege it is to worship God.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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John Zimmer has been married to Paula for almost forty-seven years and has three children and four grandchildren. A graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, John has been a life-long music and worship leader in churches in Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio. His passion is thoughtful and passionate congregational worship leadership. He writes a weekly blog, "Words from the Friar," which is an insightful look at corporate worship, or what he calls, faith-family worship. His emphasis is reconnecting a congregation to a unifying worship time that works regardless of worship style or resources. His writings reflect a creative and fresh look at Christian worship.