According to the dictionary, worship is defined as:
(n). reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power;
also: an act of expressing such reverence.
Worship is both a reverence and any action that expresses this reverence. I like to think that worship is a 'state of heart'. When the heart of a person is reverent before the Creator, they cannot help but worship Him. In a similar manner, the creatures mentioned in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4 can do nothing but worship God when they are in His awesome presence. I think that the 'heart of worship' looks like a person consumed by their love and reverence for God. All they want to talk about is God, and He makes His way into every conversation (sports, movies, philosophy, science, history, etc). Something else to consider is what Paul says of worship in Romans 12:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
Two quick things:
1) not once does he mention the worship act of singing praises to God and
2) in the context, being a 'living sacrifice' is related to not conforming to this world.
In a little more detail, our spiritual worship is related to being a 'living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.' I take this to mean set apart for God alone. This makes sense in that the next verse tells us to not conform to the world (which is certainly not set apart for God). Paul also states that we are transformed, so that we 'may discern what the will of God is,' by the the renewing of our minds. Sounds like Discipline again, huh? I've heard many things on the renewal of the mind, but I think it boils down to reading the Word of God, Praying, and performing spiritual disciplines. This prepares the mind to be aligned with the heart for the worship of God. If God is central to our mind and our heart, how could we do anything but worship Him?
The other day, a friend said to me: "we don't worship God because of what He's done for us (that falls more into giving thanks) nor because we have the ability to worship. Rather, we worship God because He is so glorious and holy and awesome that He is worthy of glory and honor and praise and worship forever and ever." It's so simple, yet we so often miss this truth: "Give God the Glory because He deserves it!"
1) not once does he mention the worship act of singing praises to God and
2) in the context, being a 'living sacrifice' is related to not conforming to this world.
In a little more detail, our spiritual worship is related to being a 'living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.' I take this to mean set apart for God alone. This makes sense in that the next verse tells us to not conform to the world (which is certainly not set apart for God). Paul also states that we are transformed, so that we 'may discern what the will of God is,' by the the renewing of our minds. Sounds like Discipline again, huh? I've heard many things on the renewal of the mind, but I think it boils down to reading the Word of God, Praying, and performing spiritual disciplines. This prepares the mind to be aligned with the heart for the worship of God. If God is central to our mind and our heart, how could we do anything but worship Him?
The other day, a friend said to me: "we don't worship God because of what He's done for us (that falls more into giving thanks) nor because we have the ability to worship. Rather, we worship God because He is so glorious and holy and awesome that He is worthy of glory and honor and praise and worship forever and ever." It's so simple, yet we so often miss this truth: "Give God the Glory because He deserves it!"
With that, here's the motivational poster I made up for worship, featuring the verse Revelation 4:11:
No comments:
Post a Comment