WORSHIP—Expressing in words, music, rituals, and silent adoration the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God, by means of which we enter the supranatural reality of the shekinah, or glory, of God.
In Exodus, God makes clear that we are to worship the Lord and only the Lord, a message Jesus reiterates when the devil asks Jesus to worship him during the temptation in the wilderness: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” (Luke 4:8b). In worship we seek to enter into God’s presence. We can and do worship in many ways—in song, in prayer, in silence, on our knees, seated at our desks, or standing in a forest. As Richard Foster writes, we cannot guarantee true worship by form and ritual or the lack thereof.1 Ritual can be important and helpful, but it is our hearts that matter.
True worship is about our attitude.
In worship we reflect on all that God is and does and offer our praise and gratitude. To worship is to, as much as is possible, see God in full glory and worthiness. That is why so often worship is preceded by study. We seek to understand who God is and remember all that God has done, and then all we can do is marvel and adore. We can only enter into worship of God if we view God as worthy, if we understand our proper place in our relationship with God.
Indeed, the pages of Scripture testify to the fact that so often God’s people revert to worshiping idols, to giving their allegiance and adoration to what they can see or taste or touch. We too are guilty of idol worship. We worship money, sex, power, even other people, but everything other than God will ultimately disappoint. Only God is worthy.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.—Psalm 96:9
Spiritual Practice: Everyday Worship
Sing to the Lord
Admiring Who God Is
Worshiping God Through Song
How We Worship
Remembering God’s Deliverance
Worshiping Jesus
Worship in Times of Suffering
Trusting That God Is With Us
Worship That Is Dependent on God
Spiritual Practice: Worshiping With Our Hearts
God-Directed Worship
Building the House of the Lord
Worshiping False Gods
Preparing for Worship
Worshiping in Community
Worshiping God, Not Spiritual Experiences
Practicing God’s Presence
Coming Close to the Glory of God
Praise Without Ceasing
The Above material is from 'A Year With God', by Richard Fister
1 comment:
Thank you for this well written post on Worship. Some Christian's believe that worship is only singing or listening to the Word of God being preached. But Worship is anything that a Christian does that brings Glory to our Lord. God bless, Lloyd
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