Called to Worship

In my first year at Ambrose, we sang “Here I am to Worship” in chapel. I inadvertently switched the order of the words in my head and realized it’s not just “here I am to worship”, right here, right now. It’s “I am here” at Ambrose, in Calgary, on this earth to worship God. That is why we are here. All of life is an opportunity to worship God.

The hardest paper to write over the course of my degree was a paper on my calling. I didn’t think I could fill six pages describing my calling when I believed it could be summed up in three words, called to worship. Those words summarize the call from God to all who follow Him. That is why a “call to worship” opens most of our chapel gatherings at Ambrose. It reminds us of our relationship with God. After we gather, then we are sent.

As a graduating university student, perhaps I should have written about sending, rather than calling. If I had done so, I would have reflected on the words of Jesus, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21). How had the Father sent Jesus? “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Isaiah 61:1-2).

This is what sets us apart. We are here to worship God, and then we are sent, just as Jesus was, to redemptive engagement in our world today.

This story is taken from the Fall 2018 Alliance Connection magazine. You can get a free copy of the Alliance Connection at Alliance churches across Canada or view the digital copy online. We hope you will be encouraged and inspired to go deeper in Jesus and as a result, further on mission.