Themes
The glory of God • The knowledge of God • Our highest purpose • Perseverance • Hardship • Trials • Persecution • Challenges
Father, help us to live for Your glory; otherwise, we aren’t really living at all; we’re just existing.
Scripture reading
Exodus 33:18–19 1 Corinthians 10:31
This call to worship1 goes from Moses to Paul. It is a request that Moses made of God and that God answered. And it is a challenge that Paul gave to his struggling friends in Corinth.
Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And God replied, “I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you.”
Paul wrote:
Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Enjoy this call to worship devotionally; change the plural pronouns (we, us) to personal ones (I, me).
Prayer
Father in heaven, our most basic need is to know You. Any other knowledge that we wish we had or that we could acquire… is far less important. The entire trajectory of our lives is directed by our understanding of You. There is nothing more necessary, more profitable, more meaningful in our lives than knowing You and living for Your glory. Father, we confess that this should permeate every part of our lives. When we awaken, eat breakfast, and leave our homes. When we do our work or sit through school. When we enjoy dinner and go to bed. Every single moment we live, we live for Your glory. For this high purpose alone You created us. This is our chief end. Father, if this is true, help us to live for Your glory; otherwise, we aren’t really living at all; we’re just existing. If You’re not the epicenter of our lives, our lives are squandered. If there ever was a time for a deeper understanding of You, Father, it is now. We must know more of You — the infinite weightiness of who You are; the sum and substance of Your character; Your divine perfection; Your holiness and sovereignty; Your righteousness, Your power, Your truth, grace, and mercy; Your goodness and love — Your infinite grandeur and vast greatness. How will we persevere under distressing adversity and hardship, Lord? How will we endure the demanding trials of life? How will we survive any persecution? How will we endure the enormous challenges we are facing? How will we remain steadfast in the middle of countless stresses? It is only and simply and profoundly through a deeper knowledge of You. Apart from You showing us Your glory, how else, Father, do we truly live? In the face of needing to know Your will, in the face of decisions we have to make, in the face of mounting challenges, Lord, we are here this morning to pursue a deeper understanding of You. God, show us Your glory. This is what we need, Father. This is what we need to find the strength to persevere. This is what we need to withstand any difficulty in the journey ahead. This is what we need to make it through the most arduous trials and afflictions. Father, the only way through the turbulence of this world is by experiencing a far greater understanding of Your character. Please reveal more of Yourself to us today. We know that You delight in answering that prayer. In the name of Jesus, who showed us exactly who You are, Amen
Inspiring resources
A call to worship creates wonderment, amazement, curiosity, yearning, captivation, provocation, hopefulness, thankfulness, affection, rapture, delight. As these mix together, the response is worship.
If this call to worship leaves you wondering or curious or provoked or hopeful, consider diving into this awesome book that inspired me to write this call to worship.
This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on Sunday, January 23, 2022.