TRUE WORSHIP
It has to be said that there is so much in life that we idolize and worship, without actually thinking about it. Young people, in particular, worship pop idols, pop groups, movie stars and even the latest fashion trends, hair styles and make-up. Older folk end up worshipping their homes, possessions and money.
Some may disagree with the use of the word worship when it comes to how they deal with people, possessions and position and argue that they are merely looking after what they have managed to accumulate, but what is often missed and even ignored is what we actually do with our possessions.
Do we use them to bring glory to the One who gave us the ability to obtain these things in the first place? The acid test is to ask oneself, if taking care of our possessions and indeed the pursuit of gaining more or adding to them, takes up more time than we allocate to our Saviour, then we are guilty.
Because if it does, then you are being ruled by them instead of by Him, and you need to ask yourself which is more important.
The dictionary defines Worship as:
- The praise and adoration of God.
- Expressed both publicly and privately.
Give unto the Lord the Glory due to His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 1Chronicles 16:29
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 95:6
God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
The Scriptures make it very clear that we should worship God. Psalm 95 is a beautiful Psalm which speaks to us about worship and that we are to sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord who is the Rock of our Salvation.
Half way through the Psalm the invitation becomes very personal because in v6, we are told to come before His presence with thanksgiving and to bow down before Him and kneel before our Maker.
Then there is a sudden change, because there is a warning in the next verse.
Today if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your heart…
Here is the voice of God Himself warning people against an evil heart of unbelief. Hearts that become hardened because the time they should be spending with the Creator is being spent elsewhere, robbing bit by bit, piece by piece the unspeakable joy which should fill our hearts and minds every moment of our waking day.
True Worship is Personal: It stems from a personal appreciation of God and issues in a personal attitude toward God. Others may observe it and admire it and approve it. But none can enter into it. It is as personal as genuine life and genuine love themselves.
True Worship is Private: The evidence may be public – for true worship will always find expression – but the worship itself belongs to the heart.
True Worship is Pure: There can be nothing more fulfilling than to worship with purity of thought and mind which has been washed clean with the blood of the precious Saviour.
True worship is drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts and minds sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
My prayer for you is that you will not allow your problems and possessions to take the place of Jesus. True worship takes determination and effort to give the Saviour His rightful place in your life, not only for today but every day.
In these troubled times we all face, may we make time to be alone with our Saviour and learn the art of approaching Him with broken and contrite hearts.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
For He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
No matter what happens to us on planet earth, we are in HIS HANDS – He is in control!