In 1944 a hymn was written that reminds us of the reason we partake of the Lord’s Supper. A song that calls for God’s help to see more clearly His love for us. We still sing this song today…in some congregations, but what did the author and composer (Tillet S. Teddlie) want us to take away from this beautiful hymn?
“Oft we come together, Oft we sing and pray;
Here we bring our offering on this holy day.”
Do you think of your worship to God as an offering? When you ‘sing and pray’, who are you singing and praying to? To gain further insight into the song and the rationale behind it’s inspection we need to read on…
“May we keep in memory all that Thou hast said,
May we truly worship as we eat the bread.”
Coming together on Sunday morning we are focused on a specific obligation: a beautiful opportunity. We come to worship, honor, and give glory to our God! If we come for ourselves or if we come ‘looking for something’, we will be sorely disappointed. Worship to God is not about what I can get, it is wholly about what I will give. The second of these verses is a focus on the supper that commemorates our Lord’s death. It’s to remember what Christ gave to us. Read on…
“May we all in spirit, all in one accord,
Take this cup of blessing given by the Lord.“
Unity in Christ is something our Savior prayed for hours before His death on the cross. But notice how Jesus prayed that we would be united in John 17:17-21; “Sanctify them in Your truth; Your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” We are united in Christ when we understand and that Jesus is Truth. Paul told the young preacher Timothy, “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” (I Timothy 3:15)
The old hymn concludes…
“Help us Lord, Thy love to see,
May we all in truth and spirit worship Thee.”
We come together each first day of the week to remember the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When you meet next Sunday with God’s family, will you be united in heart and spirit with the family? Is the truth of God’s word present in your midst? How will you conduct yourself? As a ‘pillar and support of truth’? When you do… you’ll come to understand and know “True Worship”.