Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. (Exodus 19:10, New Living Translation)

               Our text would make a good sermon text for an induction sermon for a new pastor into  his or her new church or perhaps for an ordination service. God has ordered Moses to get his people ready for God’s appearance in three days time. Every time a minister creates a worship service and delivers a sermon, the pastor-shepherd is enabling the creation of sacred space and time so that God’s people, i.e. the Church, might experience the presence of God in some fashion. It was a task that I never took lightly or casually when I was in pastoral ministry. From the opening invocation, every hymn, every prayer, every liturgy, every scripture, every word of my sermon to the final benediction was artfully and thoughtfully sculpted in hopes that the people of my congregations just might experience the Spirit of God in some aspect or another. “O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.”  (Psalm 48:9)

                Part of the Israelite people’s preparations meant coming before God in clean clothes. It used to be that Sunday was the one special day of the week that everybody put on their best clothes, the Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. There would be a Saturday night bath or a Sunday morning shower.  People would put their ordinary, sweaty, old  work clothes off to the side and come together in their cleanest and shiniest best. Now, I don’t think one’s clothes should deter anyone from worship. I certainly don’t believe that God is judging anyone with a few tatters or buttons missing. God wants everyone to join him in worship. God is not going to exclude anyone if your jeans area little dirty.

                But the grumpy old man in me also winces at how casual worship attire has become, especially among the clergy. I get it, robes are maybe a bit over-the-top in most churches.  Once, I had a child ask me at the door why I was in a dress. I get it, too, that clergy don’t want to be seen as separate from or different from the ordinary Jane or John sitting in the congregation. Yet, we pastors have a unique function to represent and present God in Jesus Christ to our people. That is special! It matters that we look the part.

                That silly pet peeve aside, the real point is that we prepare ourselves, both clergy and people, for the awesome appearance of God. “On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.” (19:16) It is highly unlikely that we will hear thunder and see lightening in any of our church services on a Sunday. Although, in the book of Acts, we read that after a very inspiring prayer service at the Jerusalem church, “the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31) Pentecostals, of course, are renowned for raising the roof, but we, Canadian Baptists, are somewhat tamer although we love a good rousing hymn sing, an inspiring and uplifting sermon, or listening to a beautiful emotive anthem or solo. I’ve had a few thunderstorms happening coincidentally (?) during a worship service and it was kind of exciting. But, by and large, our modern worship services are not quite so loud and boisterous as it was for the Israelites.

                Be that as it may, our preparations are the key to avail ourselves to the living God in our lives. Our relationship with God is a dynamic, living, interactive and sacred activity. It doesn’t happen by chance usually. Jesus told several parables about the need for his followers to be prepared for what God was about to do. “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Matthew 24:44) We are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ arrival, for God’s presence, for the work of the Holy Spirit in our ourselves personally and in our churches collectively.  The washing of clothes can become a metaphor for getting our hearts, minds, souls and even bodies in a healthy, clean state of being so that we may receive the Love of God in all its power. “Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” (Psalm 89:15)

 

Prayer

Our amazing God, we confess that we lose our focus and become distracted when we join with others in worship. We become distracted or even feel unworthy of entering your holy presence.  Yet, your Love through Jesus Christ has washed us clean and you are eager to invite us to meet with you and experience your Grace and Mercy. We come to you with gratitude, hope and give you our love in return. In Jesus’ name, amen.