After Louisiana College graduation this morning, my mom, who had driven down from Oklahoma to see our daughter Libby and our daughter-in-law Ashley graduate, asked: “Who was that man who so enthusiastically led the opening hymn at graduation?”
     I said, “That was Fred Guilbert, the dean of the music department, why?”
     Mom: “I’ve just never seen the audience applaud the end of an opening hymn like that.”
     Me: “Well,
1) some of them were undoubtedly applauding because we were actually singing a hymn (instead of a chorus or modern song)
2) some were probably applauding because he did such an enthusiastic job of leading the song, and
3) hopefully some were applauding because they were actually praising God!”
     I gave that answer as a spontaneous observation of the moment, but there really are several different possible motivations revealed in our “applause”, or enthusiastic responses to worship.  Which characterizes you?

— do you applaud that which pleases you?
— do you applaud the performance and accomplishments of men?
— or do you truly applaud to worship and glorify God?

Good questions to ask ourselves on the eve of a worship day!