A Wave of Worship
Each Saturday at about noon here in the Western Hemisphere, a great drama begins to unfold. At that time, the sun begins to rise in the Pacific islands on a new day of worship for the Christian church.
As we labor and play here in America on Saturday, saints rise from their beds in the Pacific islands, in New Zealand, and then Australia, and Japan to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as they respond to God’s call to worship on the first day of the week.
While the globe spins, this great wave of worship gathers strength as God’s people gather to confess their sins corporately and be assured of God’s forgiveness in Korea, in the Philippines, and Indonesia.
As the sun’s rays stretch into Southeast Asia, China, Mongolia and Siberia, some cry out from prisons, while others sing quietly in apartments so as to be heard by one another and God only.
Across India and all of the “stans” some gather in fear of persecution, others form groups of two or three, and others gather in great assemblies to declare that death has been conquered and that Jesus reigns today and forever.
About this time, we in the Western Hemisphere must go to bed, even as we know that a powerful wave of worship is circling the globe that is shaking the kingdoms of the earth—a wave that is a little stronger than the wave of worship last week.
Like sports fans in a stadium who watch “the wave” roll around the other side of the stadium, we know that our time for corporate praise is not yet on the new first day of this new week, but it is coming in a matter of mere hours!
During our sleep, God hears the pleas of his own Spirit-filled saints in parts of the world where people have been pleading on the basis of his covenant promises for millennia.
As that wave of praise overtakes Africa and Europe, the triune God is magnified beneath shade trees, in makeshift storefronts, and in historical cathedrals as his word is proclaimed with power.
Finally, God’s hand turns this orb such that the light of dawn alights upon the Americas, and he awakens his people here to praise. As we enter our assemblies, we know that we are not alone, but that Jesus is fulfilling his promise to build his church.
With gratitude we enter the worship and adoration already stirred up, as it were, by our brothers and sisters around the globe as we with them celebrate one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
This wave of worship of the Creator and Redeemer of the world will wash around the globe again at the beginning of next week. You’re called to join it by joining your local church. You won’t want to miss the latest expression of the greatest development in human history. Be there!
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established;
it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
Psalm 96:7-10 (ESV)
