“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Ephesians 5:17-20)
Every day is a chance to worship God in spirit and truth!
As we have said through this week’s devotions, right perspective, lasting joy, and healthy transformation all come from worshiping faithfully. So, what is one of the greatest enemies of worshiping faithfully?
The answer is not what you expect. The answer is … “Saturday.”
That’s right, you should be reading this day’s devotional on a Saturday. For most Christians (not to mention people who don’t know Christ), the weekend means one thing: the end of work—a break!
Unfortunately, when most Christians take a break from their work, they also take a break from God. In some ways, it’s easy to worship God on Monday because we know we need Him so badly to face the week. However, something happens when we get to the weekend. We think we don’t “need” God since the challenges of the work week are finished.
We are called to worship God faithfully every day of the week, but somehow most of us view Friday night or Saturday as “official vacation days” from worship and choosing to make Jesus the center of our lives. Somehow, we believe we have “earned a day just for ourselves.” Where did we ever get that idea?
The answer is actually quite simple. We have turned worship into a job instead of a lifestyle. This is what Paul warns us about in Ephesians 5:15-20. He tells us not to be foolish about how we view each day. He certainly must have known about Friday and Saturday’s because He says, “Do not get drunk … instead be [continuously] filled with the Spirit” (verse 18).
Maybe drunkenness isn’t your issue, but every Christian has their own built-in escape (and substitute) for the presence of God as the center of their lives. That escape or substitute may seem harmless and acceptable to most people, but robs a person of making Jesus the true center of their lives so that the impossible promises of God can become a reality in their lives. In Sunday worship service, we make a decision to center our lives on Jesus, and then, by Friday, we have forgotten all about Him and choose whatever will bring us comfort and pleasure. It is a tragedy most Christians think is normal.
Starting today, and every Friday and Saturday, it’s time to take a very possible step that will quickly change your relationship with Christ and your power in the Holy Spirit. It’s time to start worshiping Jesus faithfully on Fridays and Saturdays—with an equal or greater passion than your worship on Sunday mornings!
This is the point of Ephesians 5:19-20. You could basically paraphrase what Paul says his way: Understand what the Lord’s will is … never stop or have a day off from singing and making music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to your Heavenly Father for EVERYTHING!
You might think I am just being ridiculous, but I am telling you the truth. How are you supposed to “take up your cross daily and follow” Jesus when you’re always taking the weekends off? How is God supposed to build an incredible life that becomes an example of His wonderful faithfulness when you are constantly stopping your progress and starting again?
So, let me say this with as much love and sensitivity as possible: STOP GIVING JESUS YOUR LEFTOVERS ON THE WEEKENDS!
Let Jesus be the center of your time with your friends, the soccer game with your kids, and the dates with the one you love.
That’s right! BEND your actions to seek, savor, and serve Jesus with your weekends and watch how fast and far you grow—especially in areas in which you previously failed.
If you can’t imagine Jesus being the center of the time with your friends, or the center of your kids’ soccer game, or the center of your date with the one you love … then welcome to religion! You’ve just been officially diagnosed!
If you don’t think Jesus can be the center of Friday night and Saturday, then you’ve definitely been infected with religion. Stop thinking you have to start speaking in King James English and preaching during your date, and instead, start focusing on the “unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:30, MSG) that make every relationship and time of recreation something for which to be truly thankful.
I can’t explain it all to you right now, but I can encourage you to start changing your perspective—Jesus can be the center of your weekend. Worship can be the type of relationship you have with Him all weekend long!
Take this weekend and bend it to seek, savor, and serve the greatness of God first and center in your heart!
Making Jesus the Center of Saturday
God’s Promise to Remember: “And Jesus said, … ‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).
God’s Power to Pray For: Lord Jesus, I want Your greatness to build in my life this weekend. I want to discover the rest, joy, and freedom of worshiping You this weekend. I can’t do it on my own, but I choose to bend this weekend to seek, savor, and serve You, my great God. This weekend, for You, I want to worship You by …
God’s Person to Share With: If you struggle to stay focused on Christ during the weekends, why not include other Christians in your recreational plans? Invite them out to eat or spend some time doing something you all enjoy. Let God’s people begin to give you a grace to stay focused on Jesus all weekend long! Text your prayer partner and wish him or her a great day of worship today!