By Pastor Mike Neifert
Pratt Bible Church
Special to the Tribune
A couple of years ago, I asked my optometrist to make a special pair of glasses for me. I explained to him that I could read my computer screen and books just fine without glasses, but when I was leading worship or preaching, sometimes my vision was just blurry enough to make getting the words right difficult. Could he make a pair of glasses with the focal point at the distance from my eyes to a music stand or pulpit? He could and he did. I now have my very own pair of worship glasses. I think that’s even what it says in the records in his office.
Having tested everything, I picked out some frames and the lenses were ordered. A week or two later, I stood on the platform and led the church in worship with my newly-minted worship specs. My only complaint – and this is still a problem once in a while – the frames look almost identical to a pair of my regular glasses and I get them mixed up. To combat confusion, I purposely leave my worship glasses on the music stand at the church after every Sunday service. That works unless I forget to take them off. A few weeks ago, I got in the car after worship team practice with the wrong pair on my face. I left my worship spectacles in the car and returned them to the rightful place the next morning. Disaster avoided!
Maybe you have a special pair of glasses which make it possible to do something you’d otherwise be kept from enjoying. I wear my other glasses to drive. My wife wears prescription readers so she can respond to email and see the details of photos of our beautiful granddaughter.
What no pair of glasses can actually do is cause you to worship. My worship glasses don’t transport me into God’s presence when they’re on my nose. They aid me in worship, but I have to see God for who he is or the glasses are just an aid in reading and spitting out words with no meaning. This is not the kind of worship (or worshiper) God is looking for.
In John 4:23-24, we hear Jesus speak about true worship. To a Samaritan woman he’s been talking with at a well, he says, “…a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
God, help me worship in this way. Help me (with or without glasses on) to lead others to worship in the Spirit and in truth.
A few more thoughts about seeing and worshiping:
I think seeing God for who he is, recognizing the truth about him and experiencing him, is how to gain greater clarity and focus in life. When you know God and worship him as the eternal, you can deal with the temporary pains and problems of your life. When you know God and worship him as powerful, you can trust him to work all things out for your good even if the experience of the good comes after you die. When you know God and worship him as Creator, you can look at the world around you, give thanks, and work for the good of others and for the good of the planet. I could go on, but I think you see what I’m saying.
My challenge to you? Put on your worship glasses this week. Look for God as you walk this way and that through the world. Pay attention and see if you don’t witness God’s goodness. I think you’ll see it. He’s there and he’s at work!
