Rick Gutierrez
College/Singles Pastor
As I type this blog I am without the ability to speak. I can’t talk. I have completely lost function in my vocal chords. Pardon the graphic picture, but my current dilemma is due to having stayed up all last night enjoying the thrill and ecstasy of vomiting. Basically, last night’s gastrointestinal gymnastics have rendered my ability to vocally communicate obsolete.
Not being able to talk has made something very clear to me—I have a lot of stuff to say! All day I have wanted to speak but I have been frustrated by the fact that I cannot communicate. Throughout the day, I have been in need to share information, share something funny, ask questions, etc. Truly it has been irritating to not be able to communicate whatever has been on my mind or on my heart.
Here’s the real sad thing…I cannot audibly tell my wife that I love her. I’m sitting on the couch feeling awful and Jamie is taking care of me. The, she looked at me and told me she loved me; and when I tried to respond all that came out was something that sounded like 99 year old chronic smoker trying to catch their breath after a long walk to the mail box.
Love is incomplete unless it is communicated. In order for love to find completion it must be expressed. While I admit that there are many ways to communicate love apart from actually saying it, the fact remains that something is lacking unless it is spoken. Love must be announced. Love must be heard. Whether you are 12 years old with a crush on a girl in class or you are 65 and have been married for 40 years, there is a desire to express the love we have for the other person.
To a large degree this is what is involved in worship. Worship is lavishly expressing to God the affection we have for Him. Worship is telling God we love Him. As a Christian there must be a desire to communicate our heart to God. Psalm 147:1 says, “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.” Is this your confession? Would you agree with the psalmist that it is good to sing praises of adoration to our God? Do you consider it to be pleasant to tell God you love him? Have you ever considered the fact that it is becoming of a Christian to express their affections to God?
There are many ways to verbally express our love to God, but one of the best and most ancient is through corporate song. This is the most important thing that is to take place when we gather on Sunday mornings. We are to lavishly communicate our affection to God when we gather with one another. The bride (the church) must tell the Groom (Christ) that she loves Him. This is good, pleasant and becoming.
An anthem is a symbolic song of praise, devotion and loyalty. It is a piece of sacred music commemorating a grand event. It memorializes something or someone great. As Christians, when we gather we are to worship by singing anthems to God—songs that express who God is to us and that thank Him for all that He has done for us. We have to sing anthems. This is part of what it means to be Christian. We have to verbally communicate our love to God by antheming His name.
Please come to ANTHEM this Sunday (March 16, 2008) at 7:00 PM in the fellowship hall for a time of praise and worship in which we will lovingly lavish our affection and adoration to God. Come to ANTHEM and communicate your love for God.
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