September 6
BRETHREN, WE HAVE MET TO WORSHIP
George Atkins, 19th century
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. (1 Chronicles 16:29)
The apostle Paul’s favorite name for fellow believers was “brethren.” He used this term at least 60 times throughout his various epistles. Paul’s concept of the local church was a worshiping family—the family of God. Of course, we need to worship God daily in our individual devotional lives. But every believer also needs the enriching experience of worshiping and serving God with other family members on a weekly basis. Only a church of faithful worshiping members is adequately prepared to do its work and fulfill its witness in the world.
Our worship of God, both personally and corporately, should share with the young prophet these five elements depicted in Isaiah 6:
• Recognition: “I saw the Lord …” (v. 1)
• Praise: “Holy, Holy, Holy …” (v. 3)
• Confession: “Woe is me …” (v. 5)
• Assurance of Pardon: “This has touched your lips … forgiven” (v. 7)
• Dedication: “Here am I …” (v. 8)
This interesting hymn has been a favorite, especially in the South, since it first appeared in 1825. Nothing is known of George Atkins, the author of the text.
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God.
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe.
Death is coming, hell is moving—Can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers and our children sinking down.
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him.
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior—Tell them that He will be found.
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Let us love our God supremely. Let us love each other too.
Let us love and pray for sinners till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to heaven; at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
For Today: Psalm 96:4, 9; 107:32; John 4:24; Hebrews 10:25
Make a list of the various activities that you think would improve your church worship service. Share these ideas with your pastor and other concerned leaders. Reflect on the purpose of group worship as you sing this hymn—
Milo 