“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.  To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.  Be not rash with your mouth, not let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth.  Therefore let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (ESV)

I was sitting in my office this morning reflecting over the events of the weekend that we were privileged to experience as the Seminary Baptist Church family.  We had the opportunity to have a “SKYPE” enabled video chat with Melanie and some of the others who are in China serving orphans.  We also were introduced to a new sister in Christ, Christina, by way of  a video she made, expressing her gratitude for our prayers for her.  Christina stated that she knew that she was now a Christian because of our prayers even though we had never met personally. 

Melanie shared a specific prayer request with us concerning a team of volunteers from Alabama who had been lost somewhere in China while in transit to their campsite.  We prayed as a church for them and just moments later received a text message that they had been located and were safely on their way to the campsite.  Isn’t that just like God to put an exclamation point on the truth that He hears and responds to the prayers of His children.  What an awesome God we serve!!!

After all that we experienced together this past Sunday, I could not help but to think of the worship song that was recorded a few years back by Phillips, Craig and Dean entitled, “Let My Words be Few”.  Following several minutes of a private worship service with my guitar in hand, singing this and other songs that seemed to flow so naturally, I could not help but to look back at the passage of Scripture that had inspired this particular song.   Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 deals with the issue of “Fearing God”.  This fear is that awe, wonder, or reverence that we must have in order to fullyg experience God daily in our lives. This is the same fear of God that the writer of Proverbs says is the beginning of wisdom.

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes states a few things worth noting concerning our worship.  First, we are to guard our steps when we go into the house of God. Secondly, draw near to listen. And thirdly, let your words be few.  I am convinced that these three things would transform our encounters with God as we gather for worship.  First, as we guard our steps by making sure that our walk with God is right before coming to worship.  This is accomplished by confession of sin and repentance from sin in our  lives as believers. Secondly, we must come with our hearts tuned in to listen to the Spirit’s voice and willing to respond to His instruction. Lastly, we must realize that God is not impressed by our many words, as a matter of fact he reminds us here that many words make us appear to be foolish.  Rather, we should stand in awe of God and just allow our words to be few.

The chorus of this simple song says it best:

And I stand in awe of You
Lord, I stand in awe of You.
And I’ll let my words be few
Jesus I am so in love with You.

In Christ,
Brother Tim