They will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 1 Cor. 14:25
Heavenly Father, this one brief verse is blinking with neon brilliance from the page in my Bible this morning. I cannot get away from it. It keeps drawing me back. How I long for your presence, once again, to be this compelling and transforming as we gather to worship you. What other outcome could we possibly desire for our services of worship?
The image of nonbelievers falling down before you in contrition, confession and adoration, convicts my heart, even as it generates great hope, for I’ve been there, Lord. I well remember seasons in the life of our congregation when nothing mattered but your glory and your presence. Like little birds starving for food, we gathered before you with unfettered freedom and wide-open hearts, craving the bread of the gospel—thirsting for the living water of grace.
Indeed, it didn’t start with nonbelievers, but with us—your beloved sons and daughters. We were the first ones in our church who fell down in worship exclaiming, “God is really here. God is really with us and for us! Jesus is far more glorious and loving than we ever knew. The gospel is so much bigger and better than we could have imagined!”
Yes! The gospel came in power to believers. The Holy Spirit fell on those of us who were ignorant of the riches of grace; others paralyzed by stories of guilt, shame and brokenness; some in the lockdown of obsessions and addictions; still others satisfied with a compartmentalized southern spirituality; still more of us in the shackles of self-righteous smugness and pride. We were the ones who fell down before you first, then, nonbelievers began to fall down. O blessed and convicting memories…
Would you do it again, Father? Would you pour out your Holy Spirit upon us once again? Not for our sake, not for our reputation, not to get back to the “old days,” not for any other reason but your glory, honor and praise. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ name and for the spreading of his fame.