What can we tear off of ourselves to worship Jesus?
When Jesus was entering into Jerusalem during the “Triumphant Entry”, where He rode on the donkey, He was greatly, tremendously celebrated, exalted, heralded and praised. It was a time of high praise, crying out, testimony and singing. In fact, all four of the Gospels recount the day as one that fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9 about The Coming King, the One who would bring peace, life and freedom to all of the world. It must have been a powerful, overwhelming worship experience!
In fact, Luke 19:36 says, “As He went, they spread their clothes on the street” to make way for Him. Notice that important action – some people were tearing off their very clothing to spread out before Jesus and make a visible, honored path for the King. The clothing we wear protects us. Our clothing covers the vulnerable parts of ourselves. Our clothing is what we choose to put on to show ourselves to the world. And people were tearing their own clothing off to lay before Christ. Wow.
The clothing we wear protects us. Our clothing covers the vulnerable parts of ourselves. Our clothing is what we choose to put on to show ourselves to the world. And people were tearing their clothing off to lay before Christ.
In 2 Samuel 6, David did the same thing. He took off his kingly garments to worship the real King and brought himself low in front of thousands of his subjects to show others that he was just a man in love with the Lord. But… David’s own wife mocked him for tearing off his signs of royalty and humbling himself before God. David’s response? BOOM. “It was before the Lord, who chose me…to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. I was celebrating before the Lord. I will humble myself even more than this and be abased in my own eyes.” (2 Samuel 6:21-22)
Thought for today
The things that cover us or protect us may be the very things that hinder our freedom in worship. The King of Kings (Revelation 19:16), the Great King Above All Gods (Psalm 95:3) is worthy of every sacrifice. What are you wearing that is protecting you, and yet acting as a barrier between you and the Lord in worship? What can you willingly tear off to “humble yourself even more than this” as David did to celebrate the Lord? Facing down the fear of vulnerability, of looking foolish in front of others is one of the most courage worship acts you will ever do- but Jesus is worth it! “It was before the Lord, who chose me,” David said. God has chosen you. Will you choose Him today? Praise God!
