"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." Psalm 95:6-7
What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word worship? Is it a picture of your routine on Sunday mornings? Remembering your daily quiet time? Words in a hymnal or projected on a screen? Does it bring to mind a certain physical posture? Does it conjure up images of a heavenly throne room filled with seraphim, or maybe the Old Testament tabernacle?
God created each of us with the need or desire to worship. It's not something taught or developed - it's created within us to do. Think of any culture in the world that you may be familiar with. Every culture worships something or someone. Some worship false gods or idols, while others worship money, a lifestyle, or even self. We are created with a desire and instinct to worship, so the question is not, “Do we worship?” but “Who do we worship?”
Authentic worships means worshiping God in spirit and truth. We find the truth in God’s Word, so spending time there proves crucial to understanding Who we worship. Oswald Chambers once said, “When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart.” If our knowledge of God remains superficial, our worship will be superficial.
God is not moved or impressed with our worship until our hearts are moved and impressed by Him. To worship in spirit means drawing near to God with an undivided heart.
To worship God in truth means worshiping God not as we think Him to be, not as we hope Him to be, not as we’d like Him to be, but as He is. When people see God as He is, worship happens. Worship overflows from a heart and mind renewed by the truth of God.
Scripture commands the worship of God. It’s not optional, nor should it be. Every good thing comes from Him. He provides for our every need, watches over us and guides our lives so that over time we are shaped and molded into the likeness of His Son.
What causes us to hold back from offering God our all in worship? I would suggest that there is a side of us that lives life trying to be accepted by the people around us. In a word – self consciousness.
Have you noticed that oftentimes our outward actions are inhibited by the opinions of others? When our outward actions are inhibited by the opinions of others, our worship ends up being based on what other people want, what they prefer, and what they believe. And so rather than worshiping according to what God wants, what God prefers, and what God believes, our worship and prayers can fall woefully short of the honor He deserves.
Our greatest privilege is to touch heaven in worship. We were made for worship. God fashioned our entire being as an instrument of praise. Just as a master violin maker designs an instrument to produce maximum aesthetic results, so God tailor-made our body, soul and spirit to work together in consonance to produce pleasing expressions of praise and worship.
He could have chosen to live anywhere.
But He chooses to live is us.
He is our God! And He IS worthy of our worship.
