Worship… What is it? What is meant by worship?
When referring to worship, most contemporary Christians will probably relate it to the lifting up of hands in prayer or singing along to a slow hymn or soul touching music, or eyes lifted up to heaven, tears streaming down emotion-filled faces and the pouring out of words of love to God on our knees. Some also refer to it as the gathering together of believers in ‘worship’… Well, yes all of these are indeed ‘worship’. But is that all what worship is about? Is that all it entails?
I think that’s a huge limitation to the meaning of worship; a shallow representation of what worship actually is.
Worship goes way beyond all of that. It has a much more deep and profound meaning than just a slot or section in a Sunday service, than just the meeting together of believers or the singing of songs or hymns to God… There is much more to Worship than these only.
Worship is actually a lifestyle – a way of life.
It goes beyond words of reverence, demonstrations of love and emotions poured out in a church house or in private to behavior on the streets, comportment at home, work, school…wherever. Worship isn’t confined to any place or any particular time. It is a daily demonstration of love and reverence for God through our words, actions, behavior… through the decisions and choices we make…above all through obedience to the will and word of God.
Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission (Webster’s Dictionary, 1828).
Worship isn’t after anything – a reward, or answers to prayers – Worship stems from ‘extravagant love’ and a deep desire and longing to please God.
When everything you do revolves around God and He truly is at the center of your life, When pleasing Him becomes the preoccupation of your mind – like a teenager who ‘falls in love’ for the first time and can’t stop thinking of ways to please that person they love, when you actually do what God wants you to do – loving one another, giving generously, living pure and holy lives…, then that’s when you really worship Him. It isn’t about what you say; it is about what you do. Worship is an action.
Worship is sincere and happens in the heart. Worship that isn’t sincere isn’t pleasing to God.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Matthew 15:8-9a NIV
We also worship God with our bodies. How we carry our bodies, what we feed them, what we allow into them, how we take care of them. This is true worship.
Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 NIV
I encourage you therefore to let your lifestyle be your worship unto God. Don’t limit worship to just church services and few hours of prayers. Let your daily life be worship unto God – because that is what true worship really is.
Remain Blessed
Apiseh
Amen. Thanks for this amazing insight
Amen