Have you ever asked yourself why we should worship and what is worship? What does it mean to God? Does he really care how I worship him as long as I attend church (well, most weeks, that is) and at least stand up during the "singing."
Just a few thoughts....maybe you agree and maybe you don't.
Jesus took time to chat with a woman by a well (John 4:1-38). He made this statement, "the Father is now looking for true worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth." What does that mean? From the inside out, with our whole being. With no hidden thing in us. We can’t hide from God (Jeremiah 23:24).
How many times do we sing or "stand" in worship but our minds are so far away, that is not to even consider where our heart is. We are thinking of our surroundings, what we did last night and even at times judging others because we think they are judging us. Is that with our whole being?
As Jesus and the woman end their conversation, she runs and tells all about what just happened to her. Is like the girl who just gets engaged, no matter the size of the ring or diamond, she will let everyone know.
Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and come into his courts with praise." In worship we express our admiration for who HE is, not just what he’s done. Worship is what takes place beyond the outer courts, through the inner courts (the Holy Place), and on into the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies), where the presence of God dwells. We are instructed to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).
It’s not done during church service for a couple of hours. It happens every day; everywhere in life! And the beauty is that it is not limited to music and singing. Our coming together every week should be a culmination of our continuous worship. In fact, the lack of private worship will hinder your ability to worship corporately.
So why worship....as Tommy Tenney put it a few years ago, "because we want to be transformed. You can not worship God if you have not been transformed by HIM...being in HIS presence....
Just a few thoughts....maybe you agree and maybe you don't.
Jesus took time to chat with a woman by a well (John 4:1-38). He made this statement, "the Father is now looking for true worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth." What does that mean? From the inside out, with our whole being. With no hidden thing in us. We can’t hide from God (Jeremiah 23:24).
How many times do we sing or "stand" in worship but our minds are so far away, that is not to even consider where our heart is. We are thinking of our surroundings, what we did last night and even at times judging others because we think they are judging us. Is that with our whole being?
As Jesus and the woman end their conversation, she runs and tells all about what just happened to her. Is like the girl who just gets engaged, no matter the size of the ring or diamond, she will let everyone know.
Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and come into his courts with praise." In worship we express our admiration for who HE is, not just what he’s done. Worship is what takes place beyond the outer courts, through the inner courts (the Holy Place), and on into the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies), where the presence of God dwells. We are instructed to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).
It’s not done during church service for a couple of hours. It happens every day; everywhere in life! And the beauty is that it is not limited to music and singing. Our coming together every week should be a culmination of our continuous worship. In fact, the lack of private worship will hinder your ability to worship corporately.
So why worship....as Tommy Tenney put it a few years ago, "because we want to be transformed. You can not worship God if you have not been transformed by HIM...being in HIS presence....
