November 11, 2005

          As we wound down our evening one day this past week, my wife and I were faithfully completing our nightly ritual of “Little Rascal Roundup”, when I found my eight-year-old son bent over our dining room table, meticulously writing something on a deep blue piece of paper.  I cautiously peered over his shoulder to see what might be there and, to my surprise, observed a series of music notes carefully drawn out and arranged on hand-drawn music paper.

          Now in his second year of piano lessons, he already knows more than do I regarding music theory, so his handiwork was already riddled with mystery for me, along with the work of his older brother (who is now in his fourth year of piano lessons).  What was (and is) particularly interesting to me, though, were the lyrics that he was writing out, carefully placing them with corresponding notes.  I suddenly perceived that he was clearly writing more than just musical notes for his amusement.  He was doing more than seeking to demonstrate his musical giftedness.  He was writing a song from his heart, the words of which told the story of a budding yet very real and deep love for God.

          He gave me permission to share with you the piece that he’s written, entitled, “I Love God”.  “Oh, my God, You are mighty!  Lord, You’re my God; Oh, Mighty One, You are mighty.  I love You, God.  You are mighty!  Lord, oh, You’re mighty, my Lord!”

          Unsolicited, yet intentional and focused praise from the heart, mind, hands, and lips of an eight-year-old.  How sweet and unassuming such praise is to the Father!  How uncomplicated and pure such adoration!

          It reminds me of where it is written, “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn!  I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.  For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 108:1-4 NIV).

          If ever one wonders what constitutes “real” worship in the mind of God or perhaps finds it difficult to visualize what such worship may look like, he or she needs only to see a young child who hasn’t yet gotten “caught up” in the patterns of worldly thinking that have flooded every single form of communication that we use (even having infiltrated the ranks of the church).  We may learn a lot from a young boy or girl who simply hasn’t yet become convinced that the opinions of others are all that important and just wants to tell God how great He is.

          My son wrote his song because a song was in his heart.  He wrote the song so that he could go back, time and time again, to reflect on God’s goodness.  He wrote it so that he could be refreshed in his walk with the Lord by reminiscing on the joy that God had sent him.  He wrote it because he really loves God and it doesn’t occur to him to not enjoy the fact that God loves him, too.

          “Praise the name of the LORD.  Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD, you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.  Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant….  I know that the LORD is great, that our LORD is greater than all ‘gods’….  The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.  They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears but they cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.  Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them….  I know that the LORD is great, that our LORD is greater than all ‘gods’.  The LORD does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in seas and in their depths.  He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses” (Psalm 135:1-3, 5, 13-18, 5-7 NIV).

          So… what “song” are you “singing” today and what “melody” can others discern in your life?  Can they see that you’re not simply walking along through life merely to the beat of any old “different drum”, but have a whole new “dance” to give to your Savior?

          And what “poems” are you inking onto the parchment of each new day?  Is the LORD your Ambition and your Hope, as well as your Help?  Are you free on the inside of your thoughts, your hopes, dreams, and ambitions so that you can REALLY worship God?

          Worship doesn’t have anything to do with our trying to “appease” God but it isn’t about our getting our own way either.  Instead, it is really about praise, service, and surrender to the will of the heavenly Father.  Worship is only a phantom of what it should be when it is merely an exercise or activity that we do because it is our weekly obligation.  And when our “worship” is merely about keeping up an appearance or is a chance for us to benefit materially, or any other way superficially, it becomes a mockery.

          Let our worship be unassumingly genuine and simple.  Let our praise be the “real thing”, sincerely directed to the One to Whom it belongs.   Genuine praise of the Lord is perhaps one of the most genuinely beautiful things in the world.  As imperfect as one might feel in regard to the supposed “quality” of his or her worship, the “microphone” by which he or she broadcasts is a faithful walk through both adversity and blessing with hope in his heart, a song of worship on his lips, and an offering of thankfulness and obedience for each new day.  Let us then walk obediently, singing our songs to the One Who always has time to listen.

(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past ten years.  He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church.   For comments or questions, he may be reached by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).