Worfadience
There is one word that captures what Christianity is all about. There is one word that embodies the Christian life. There is one word that is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. And that word is worfadience. Not familiar with the term? Check it out...
In Genesis 12:1-3 God spoke to Abram and called him to a unique and privileged role in the history of redemption: Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors your I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
God called Abram to radical faith. Abram didn't simply have to believe in God but he had to trust in God. He had to have overwhelming confidence in who God was so that he could have complete assurance that God could keep His promises.
Then, Abram shows us that faith isn't a state of mind but rather is a posture of humble submission: So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan (Gen 12:4-5).
God didn't simply call Abram to radical faith but called him to radical faith which resulted in radical obedience. Abram was an old dude, and he had never left daddy's house. Out of nowhere, God instructs not only to leave daddy's house but to move out of the country. God said, "Start traveling and I'll tell you when you get there." And here's the thing: Abram did it! His faith led to obedience.
Then we read: Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD (Gen. 12:7).
Here, Abram shows us that radical faith and radical obedience result in radical worship. Building an altar to God was an act of worship. God appeared to Abram, informed him that he had arrived at his destination, and shared the incredible news that he was going to have children (though he and Sarai were old and childless). Abram believes and trusts God, and his faith leads him to worship.
These few verses reveal how closely related worship, faith, and obedience are to one another. They're so intimately connected, in fact, that we can combine them into a single word: worfadience. Maybe we should coin this word so that we may remember that we should never attempt to have worship without faith or obedience; never attempt to have faith without worship or obedience; and never attempt to have obedience without faith or worship.
Here's how intricately dependent upon one another are worship, faith, and obedience in the life of a Christian:
Christianity is all about radical worfadience! It's the worship of God expressed through faith in God and displayed through obedience to God. If you're a Christian, God has placed a radical calling upon your life - to live for the glory of Christ. God has saved you so that you may live a life of radical worship of Jesus, radical faith in Jesus, and radical obedience to Jesus.
Psalm 119:162-166 says, "I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil. I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous ordinances. Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing cause them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, and do Your commandments." Did you notice how closely the themes of worship, faith, and obedience are interwoven through these verses? To remove one of the three would be to pull the thread which renders the garment useless.
So how's your worfadience? Are you interweaving true worship, real faith, and humble obedience into the tapestry of your life so that you may live a radical life for the glory of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
In Genesis 12:1-3 God spoke to Abram and called him to a unique and privileged role in the history of redemption: Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors your I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
God called Abram to radical faith. Abram didn't simply have to believe in God but he had to trust in God. He had to have overwhelming confidence in who God was so that he could have complete assurance that God could keep His promises.
Then, Abram shows us that faith isn't a state of mind but rather is a posture of humble submission: So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan (Gen 12:4-5).
God didn't simply call Abram to radical faith but called him to radical faith which resulted in radical obedience. Abram was an old dude, and he had never left daddy's house. Out of nowhere, God instructs not only to leave daddy's house but to move out of the country. God said, "Start traveling and I'll tell you when you get there." And here's the thing: Abram did it! His faith led to obedience.
Then we read: Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD (Gen. 12:7).
Here, Abram shows us that radical faith and radical obedience result in radical worship. Building an altar to God was an act of worship. God appeared to Abram, informed him that he had arrived at his destination, and shared the incredible news that he was going to have children (though he and Sarai were old and childless). Abram believes and trusts God, and his faith leads him to worship.
These few verses reveal how closely related worship, faith, and obedience are to one another. They're so intimately connected, in fact, that we can combine them into a single word: worfadience. Maybe we should coin this word so that we may remember that we should never attempt to have worship without faith or obedience; never attempt to have faith without worship or obedience; and never attempt to have obedience without faith or worship.
Here's how intricately dependent upon one another are worship, faith, and obedience in the life of a Christian:
- Worship without faith in God's Son is impossible.
- Worship without obedience to God's Word is hypocrisy.
- Faith without worship of God is futile.
- Faith without obedience to God is dead.
- Obedience without worship of God is drudgery.
- Obedience without faith in God is legalism.
Christianity is all about radical worfadience! It's the worship of God expressed through faith in God and displayed through obedience to God. If you're a Christian, God has placed a radical calling upon your life - to live for the glory of Christ. God has saved you so that you may live a life of radical worship of Jesus, radical faith in Jesus, and radical obedience to Jesus.
Psalm 119:162-166 says, "I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil. I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous ordinances. Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing cause them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, and do Your commandments." Did you notice how closely the themes of worship, faith, and obedience are interwoven through these verses? To remove one of the three would be to pull the thread which renders the garment useless.
So how's your worfadience? Are you interweaving true worship, real faith, and humble obedience into the tapestry of your life so that you may live a radical life for the glory of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
Enough with the conviction! Keep writing and studying friend, it is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :) Keep on writing!
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