When does a healthy marriage begin? When did your successful new career begin? When did the Atlanta Braves’ new record for hitting the most single-season home runs begin?
In order: Not on the wedding day. Not the day you were hired. Not on opening day.
The healthy marriage started long ago when, as kids, husband and wife watched their parents’ married life and learned about a healthy marriage.
The successful new career started when you stepped away from the old one.
The Braves’ home runs start in the media room at the clubhouse where the batting coaches analyze the opposing pitchers.
The point is, the moment is never just about the moment. It’s about what happens before the moment.,
Same for Sunday worship. When does awesome, heart-pounding, joy-filled, Christ-centered, life-changing, heaven-like worship begin? Not at the opening song, but before.
I could identify any number of starting points, from childhood experiences in church to a covenant you’ve made with your small group or coach. Let me focus just here: Saturday.
Sunday worship starts on Saturday.
When you get to bed at a decent time for a good night’s sleep, you’re already beginning to worship God. When you get your kids to bed at a decent time, you’re helping them learn to do the same.
When you cut off alcohol on Saturday night or avoid it altogether, you’re already beginning to worship God.
When you manage the late night concerts, games, movies, parties and Netflix binging on Saturday so that you can still jump out of bed on Sunday and land on two feet with a spring in your step, you’re already beginning to worship God.
When you make special arrangements with the coach after Saturday’s game so that your child can go to church on Sunday, you’re already beginning to worship God.
When you read the Bible verses that will be read on Sunday, when you sing the songs that will be sung on Sunday, when you prepare for Holy Communion that will be offered on Sunday, you’re already beginning to worship God.
When you set out Sunday clothes for the kids on Saturday evening, you’re already beginning to worship God.
See you in church!
PRAYER: God, you love me every day of the week, and I want to love you that way, too. I want to express that love in a special way on Sundays. Guard and guide my heart to begin worshipping already on Saturday, as I prepare for the best day of the week. Amen.
DIG DEEPER: Check out this devotion by Paul Tripp called Polishing Sunday Shoes on Saturday. It’s both an example of a devotion you can receive once a week, and also an inspiration for studying the subject further.