Have you noticed some people becoming emotional in worship services? Do some hymns cause you to be teary eyed or choke you up? Are there passages in the Bible that you find to be too good to be true? Or too harsh for you to believe it? Have you wrestled with why?
Worship services can be emotional experiences for some of us. It may be the singing of certain hymns. The words of them simply hit home. It may be the reading of Scripture. The passage hits a nerve. It may be something in the sermon that causes shock, relief, joy, or exhilaration.
Personally, I know some hymns will choke me up and tears will come to my eyes. The words have a deep meaning and remind me how gracious and merciful God has been and continues to be to me. Amazing Grace is one of them. Perhaps it has an emotional effect on you, too. Music can have that type of effect on many of us.
But what about Scripture? There are some passages that still amaze me, even though I dig into study them and understand them in context and understand the original language meaning. The fact that God would come into his creation as Jesus Christ, give himself up for me, and offer me forgiveness is still awe inspiriting.
When Nehemiah and Ezra got the book of law out to read it to the Israelites, they had an emotional response. They were hungry for God’s Word because they had been in exile. They had been allowed to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the wall, and worship God. They knew in part what God had instructed their forebearers, but hearing God’s instruction directly and fully caused a visceral reaction. We would do well to be moved by God’s Word.
I pray we all are moved in worship services. I pray the hymns we sing cause us to praise God. I pray each one of us are amazed at what we read in God’s Word, especially his love demonstrated for us. Be moved in worship. Praise God in song. Be amazed at God’s love.
Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
Marty Pressey 