discipleship & worship

‘A man or a woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven’ (A.W.Tozer)

Just as we need food, water and oxygen, we need worship. Worship is defined as giving adoration and reverence to someone or something. Colossians 1:16 says that we were created by God and for God.  Our original purpose, being created in God’s image, was to worship Him. The term worship has become synonymous with singing, but that’s just one way that worship expresses itself. True worship happens when our entire life becomes a declaration of trust in God’s incredible mercy.   The importance of true worship can not be underestimated in the life of the disciple, but too often distractions get in the way 

• we go to church, but we don’t worship.
• We sing songs, but we don’t worship.
• We listen to sermons, but we don’t worship.
• We serve in a ministry area--but don’t worship.

All of these things are elements of worship, but they are not worship in and of themselves, which means that we can do all of them and yet have failed to truly worship God.  Too often worship is put in a box; True worship is not a feeling but an intentional act of the will.  It involves the surrender of our lives to God; It involves focussing entirely on him in every situation, praising him, honouring him and seeking him, even in times of sadness, trial and distress.  True worship is not simply routine, ritual or rhetoric scheduled for (hopefully) only 50 minutes a week; true worship is responding to the call of God to meet with him with reverence and joy; to know him intimately, and to express appreciation to him for who he is, what he has done, what he is doing, and what he has promised for the future. 

Whilst we must have times of intentional worship set aside each day; worship does not stop when we close the book or lift our heads; true worship in the life of a disciple is a continual act, we never stop worshipping.  So, if worship never stops, if we are continually worshipping someone or something, who or what is receiving your adoration and reverence Monday through Saturday?


'At the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' (Philippians 2:10-11)

Grace & peace,
Jen


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