by Sarah Andrews

This year, the youth went to Pine Valley for our annual retreat. Over the weekend we bonded over meal and snack time, games and football, and the study of God’s word. We even saw snow on Sunday morning! I am thankful for the quality time spent with the youth and the friendships built within the ministry. I pray that God may grant them spiritual wisdom and understanding about what it means to be a Christian and the new lives we have in Him.

We were blessed by the preaching of Pastor Andy Kang from Lighthouse Bible Church Los Angeles. The topic of the retreat was worshiping God, and he began by discussing what true worship is. In Isaiah 66, God is Creator and does not need anyone or anything to bring glory to Himself. He is displeased when His people worship false gods, but he favors “those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at [His] word” (Isaiah 66:1-2). Humility is recognizing that we are sinful beings before a holy God.

In Psalm 51, David shows humility before God. He recognizes that he has broken God’s commandments, and confesses with guilt and shame. He asks that God may have mercy and cleanse him from all iniquities. God mercifully accepts “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (verse 17).

Next, we discussed the reason for worship. We worship God because we recognize His worth. In Psalm 103, David praises God for his character, majesty and benefits. He is so holy that He cannot be anywhere near sin. Yet He is also full of forgiveness, love and compassion, and does not treat repentant people according to what they deserve. God knows we are mortal beings that are like dust, but “from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children” (Psalm 103:17). He who is holy and lives in heaven draws near to “the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). God is worthy of all worship and praise.

We also learned that there is a wrong way to worship God. In Matthew 15:1-20, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for breaking the Jewish tradition of washing hands before eating, and Jesus rebuked them for their hypocrisy. They pridefully performed their deeds to be seen by people, and they broke God’s greater commandments. God was displeased by their worship because they lacked humility before Him and a brokenness over their sin.

We continually fail to keep God’s commandments, but there is good news: Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins! Our deeds will never be sufficient to make us holy. Christ’s finished work on the cross is sufficient to cleanse us of sin so that God may see us as righteous. Christ removes all guilt and shame that we may have, and we are no longer condemned. When he was crucified, Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19:30) because He atones for the sins of all who believe in Him, and He reconciles sinful humans to a perfect God.

Lastly, we learned about manifestations of worship. God is pleased when we “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” and “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our minds].” When we turn away from deeds of the flesh and seek God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2), God allows us to be “instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). The Holy Spirit is given to us when we are saved, and enables us to do the good works.

We are to worship God in spirit and in truth, and must rely on God’s word to know what pleases Him. Romans 12 gives examples of God’s commanded will. We are to serve members in the body of Christ; show love, preference and hospitality towards one another; and do good to our enemies, rather than repay evil for evil. It is important that we focus on worshiping God and having a humble and repentant heart, rather than seeking to impress others with external behavior.

Through their time in youth ministry, I pray that the youth will have a greater understanding of our position before God and the finished work of Christ. We must recognize that we are sinful before a perfect God, and there is nothing good we can do to make ourselves right with Him. Yet God loves us and sent Christ to pay the penalty for our sin. If we trust His finished work on the cross, we will not experience God’s wrath, and we are free of the shame and guilt that sin brings. We are free to worship God and live new lives empowered by his Holy Spirit. We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10) and are adopted into his family.

Praise God that as Christians, we are washed by His blood and able to worship Him!