According to the dictionary.com, worship is, amongst other things, "reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred..." or, "...adoring reverence or regard..." This definition seem to go well with what happens on Sunday mornings at church. But I think there is more to worship than going to church once a week and singing a few songs. The amplified version of the bible says in Romans 12:1:
"I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship."
From this passage of scripture, one can conclude that there is much more to worship that what happens on Sundays. As a matter of fact, worship has little to do with singing at all, it is a life style. You worship God in the morning, when you first wake up, or when you go to work, in the way you use your time and talent, you worship god with every thought, action, or word you speak, in the way you think about life or others, the attitudes you develop towards them, and the way you treat them. In other words:
"...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27 ESV
The Amplified bible speaks of the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord. I think that term sums up the attitude we should have towards God in a great way. We should revere him, worship him, and fear him, all at the same time, in a balanced way. Reverence, Love, and fear, in perfect balance, yielding a lifestyle of humble submission and obedience. THAT is true worship, THAT is a life worth living!!!
"The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline." Proverbs 1:7 AMP
As I read that verse I can't help thinking that worship, reverence, fear, wisdom, discipline, and knowledge are intimately connected to one another and almost inseparable. Lets look at the all too popular example of David dancing before the arc of the covenant as it was being returned to Jerusalem:
"As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will make merry before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor." 2 Samuel 6:16-22 ESV
It is obvious that David was not concerned about what people thought about him. In his mind, his relationship with God was more important that status, his role as as King over Jerusalem, and what other people thought about him. He was not interested in being popular, or respected, or well though of. He was concerned with God, and what His will was for his life. No wonder God called David "a man after my own heart".
I want to challenge you today to decide to live a life of worship towards God, a life in which every aspect is submitted to God in reverential and worshipful fear of Him. With the intention of expressing your love to Him, and His love to everyone you come into contact with!!!
"I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship."
From this passage of scripture, one can conclude that there is much more to worship that what happens on Sundays. As a matter of fact, worship has little to do with singing at all, it is a life style. You worship God in the morning, when you first wake up, or when you go to work, in the way you use your time and talent, you worship god with every thought, action, or word you speak, in the way you think about life or others, the attitudes you develop towards them, and the way you treat them. In other words:
"...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27 ESV
The Amplified bible speaks of the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord. I think that term sums up the attitude we should have towards God in a great way. We should revere him, worship him, and fear him, all at the same time, in a balanced way. Reverence, Love, and fear, in perfect balance, yielding a lifestyle of humble submission and obedience. THAT is true worship, THAT is a life worth living!!!
"The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline." Proverbs 1:7 AMP
As I read that verse I can't help thinking that worship, reverence, fear, wisdom, discipline, and knowledge are intimately connected to one another and almost inseparable. Lets look at the all too popular example of David dancing before the arc of the covenant as it was being returned to Jerusalem:
"As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will make merry before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor." 2 Samuel 6:16-22 ESV
It is obvious that David was not concerned about what people thought about him. In his mind, his relationship with God was more important that status, his role as as King over Jerusalem, and what other people thought about him. He was not interested in being popular, or respected, or well though of. He was concerned with God, and what His will was for his life. No wonder God called David "a man after my own heart".
I want to challenge you today to decide to live a life of worship towards God, a life in which every aspect is submitted to God in reverential and worshipful fear of Him. With the intention of expressing your love to Him, and His love to everyone you come into contact with!!!
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