Call to Worship God,
to Gather Together
Romans 15:32 ESV
…by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
Pondering Point
I love the idea of gathering to be refreshed. Worship of course is a great time to do that, but so are midweek get-togethers for lunch, small group and just chatting. The very definition of joy (and peace) comes from being with others whom you enjoy.
“We all need times of high-energy joy and low-energy rest.
Nurturing a rhythm means protecting ourselves from always
having to be on. We can’t always be in a high-energy state.
Sometimes we need alone time without a lot of noise or
emotional demands and sometimes we need quiet time with
just 1 or 2 other people where we can enjoy being together in a
low-energy state.” 62,~ page 63, The 4 Habits, Warner, Coursey
Later he writes with Marcus Warner,
"As Christians, we believe God wired us for joy and that He desires to share joy with us.”
~ page 179, The 4 Habits of Joy-filled People
They then quote John 15:11-12
John 15:11-12
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
These things referenced by Jesus likely connect to the teachings of that evening, but particularly the role of abiding in Jesus. This is a good verse to connect with a quote from Wilder’s Joyful Journey:
From the Joyful Journey book:
We cannot share all of ourselves or listen to everything God would share in one sitting. A vibrant relationship requires on-going interactions. Practically speaking, even in human relationships such as marriage, we have misunderstandings and must come back and ask clarifying questions. That is how relationships grow and work, even with God. God works with our ability to understand. Sometimes He allows us to have supernatural insight into situations, but often we become more attuned to God as we grow and mature.
p. 20, Joyful Journey, Wilder, Kang, Loppnow, Loppnow
Prayer
Father God, I love the idea of being refreshed in worship, refreshed in relationships throughout the week. Thank You for refreshment that comes through Your holy Spirit through Your Word and Sacraments, through our family and friends, through our church and community. May there be sources of living water welling up within us to refresh others in their joyful journeys as “well. ” In Jesus' name I pray. Amen