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Psalm 66:8

NASB	NLT	VOICE
8 Bless our God, you peoples, And sound His praise abroad,	8 Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises.	8 Everyone, bless our True God! Let praise-filled voices be heard near and far – at home and on foreign soil!

Loud and Proud Worship

This a call to all of us to worship God for his power and the inclusivity of His blessings for us. This call is to recognize God’s authority and goodness. This is a preview of the New Testament revelation where the Gospels opens to all people instead of just the Israelites. In ancient Israel, worship was often done together, involving singing, music, and sometimes dancing. This sound of praise is not just a worship movement, but it’s also a testimony of God’s deeds to others. Publicly shared what God does for each of us is the call of sharing our testimony. Worship isn’t a silent or private affair but should be evident and audible to all around us.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What is your favorite worship song right now? Why?

Worship Check-In

Worship is not limited to a specific Christian or specific demographics, but it’s for all people. How can we encourage and participate in global worship? This question came up a lot when I was a part of the worship design team at my old church. There was a big discussion about contemporary music vs. classic organ/piano music. Some people preferred the organ playing the hymns because it was created a slower, intimate moment to share our words to God. Some people preferred a more contemporary vibe because it brought some energy, uplifted vibes, and the ability to shout our words to God. One way is not better than the other. However, all churches should work to strike a balance for everyone. Offering the most inclusive moments of worship can help create the greatest reach for all Christians. When you become stagnant in how your worship experiences go, you start to lose people. You start to take people out of the moment. Is it up to the church to set people’s heart to worship? (asked because I can see some of you asking this) Not fully. Christians need to celebrate God in all moments, and the church isn’t responsible for making that happen. However, churches need to be a vessel to allow this to happen, and when it creates a stifling for one person, it no longer becomes accessible.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Think about what your favorite worship experience was. What made it great for you? What is one thing that could be improved?

2 Timothy 1:9

NASB	NLT	VOICE
9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.	9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.	9 God has already saved us and called us to this holy calling – not because of any good works we may have done, but because of His own intention and because eons and eons ago (before time itself existed), He gave us this grace in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King.

God’s Rescue Plan for Everyone!

Salvation is a divine act, where God rescues us from sin. God wants us to live a holy life; a life set apart for what God has prepared for us. The call to live a holy life is not just for each person, but for each community. God doesn’t do this because of anything we do. God gifts this to us. It’s beyond our comprehension. God’s plans are unstoppable. We work with God for His divine purpose. God’s grace is about His unmerited favor of us. We see a true representation of who Christ is through Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of grace. This grace transforms us to live according to God’s will. This was all according to God’s plan, even before the creation of the world.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What have you understood about God’s calling for you? How have you followed His plans in your life?

We Are Saved. We Are Saved.

Our salvation is not earned by our works but is a gift of grace. Take a breath and read this again: our salvation, our rescue from our sins, is not due to anything we do. God gifts this to all of us. This can bring us some freedom and gratitude. It can be stressful to run around and do things to achieve our place of eternal life. The price of our current salvation was the sacrifice of Jesus. Imagine if the cost of salvation was facing our own punishment like that – to die via crucifixion. No one would be in a relationship with God. Christianity would probably cease to exist as a result. Recognizing that our salvation is a gift in this capacity, makes us appreciate it that much more. This doesn’t mean that we stop working towards God’s will. We constantly will work to not sin. We constantly repent of where we get things wrong with God. When we miss the mark of being like Christ in the world, we must look to see where we got it wrong, and work towards being better the next time.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How have you understood salvation? Where do you still struggle with sin?

Above all, remember I am called to God to obey the voice of His Praise.

PRAY Action

Praise God for His gift of rescue for us, showing us that He loves us so much that there was nothing we can do to earn it.

Read Titus 3:5.

Ask God for His mercy. Ask for God to go through our hearts and remove the things that aren’t of Him and replace it with the fruits of the Spirit.

You are loved by God. You are His favorite. You are His creation. Let us live according to His purposes and desires for us.

Next part: Strength from God || Who Am I Again? || Part 20