Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, July 22

 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate

 in order to sanctify the people

 through his own blood.

Therefore let us go to him 

outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

For here we have no lasting city, 

but we seek the city that is to come.  

Hebrews 13: 12-15

Throughout the book of Hebrews we have been traveling, we’ve been running, we’ve been constantly moving toward our ultimate, eternal destination.  Along the way the writer has encouraged us to enter God’s rest (4:11); to draw near to the throne of grace (4:16); to go on to maturity (6:1); to flee for refuge into the inner place where Jesus has gone on our behalf (6:19-20); to draw near and enter the holy place (10:22); to come to Mount Zion, the city of the Living God (12:22). 

One commentator I read referred to the city gate as the “camp of comfort”.  We will borrow that term to declare that this text calls us to leave ‘Camp Comfortable’ with the conveniences, comforts and safe confines we are used to, and go outside the gate to Jesus.  Our text is clear: Jesus was willing to leave Camp Comfortable and suffer for our sakes.  If we are going to be with Him we must go where He is.   In the end we see that leaving “Camp Comfortable’ is not risky, because “Camp Comfortable’ is also ‘Camp Temporary’.  Where Jesus is is unshakable and eternally secure.  He is the same yesterday, and today and forever.  His kingdom is unshakable.

The lasting city we’ve been promised, the city of the Living God, is God’s “kingdom that cannot be shaken”.  (Heb 12:28)  This truth is the foundational motivation for offering to God “acceptable worship, with reverence and awe”. (Heb 12:28b)

Mediate upon this truth as you prepare for worship this week.  Consider that not only did Jesus go outside the gates of the city to suffer for us, but he also left behind the glories of heaven for our sake.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.   Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.   And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:1-11)

As you prepare for worship this week take time to ask God to examine your heart, and show you the affections, the comforts, the conveniences that are holding you back from fully following Jesus outside the gates of ‘Camp Comfort”.

I found an old hymn that speaks to this call that Jesus places on our hearts.  While the lyrics may be new to you, the tune will be familiar.  You can hear the song at this link. (This is a great arrangement, but will use a different tune this Sunday)

 Jesus, I my cross have taken,


All to leave and follow Thee.


Destitute, despised, forsaken,


Thou from hence my all shall be.


Perish every fond ambition,


All I’ve sought or hoped or known.


Yet how rich is my condition!


God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me,


They have left my Savior, too.


Human hearts and looks deceive me;


Thou art not, like them, untrue.


O while Thou dost smile upon me,


God of wisdom, love, and might,


Foes may hate and friends disown me,


Show Thy face and all is bright.

Soul, then know thy full salvation


Rise o’er sin and fear and care


Joy to find in every station,


Something still to do or bear.


Think what Spirit dwells within thee,


Think what Father’s smiles are thine,


Think that Jesus died to win thee,


Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

Haste thee on from grace to glory,


Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.


Heaven’s eternal days before thee,


God’s own hand shall guide us there.


Soon shall close thy earthly mission,


Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,


Hope shall change to glad fruition,


Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.