Worship is somewhat hard to define. There are many aspects of worship that are, quite frankly, hard to get a handle on. For me, the best biblical definition of worship can be found in Psalm 29:2 – “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Worship, then, can be defined as “giving God the glory due unto His name.”
Worship is a vital part of our faith. As we see and recognize God for Who He really is, we are drawn into a closer relationship with Him. Our inward man is renewed and refreshed (see II Corinthians 4:17). Our strength is renewed like the eagle’s (see Isaiah 40:31). Worship isn’t an event, like going to church on Sunday. Worship is a lifestyle. It is simply “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). The reason many Christians show up on Sunday and fail to truly worship is because they haven’t done so the week before. Sunday “worship” ought to be the culmination of a heart that has been seeking God daily! This was wonderfully expressed in one of Frances R. Havergal’s lovely hymns – “Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord to Thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
Worship is really many things, not just one thing. To begin with, WORSHIP IS MAKING TIME FOR GOD. We are so frenzied and stressed today that we seldom have time for God. We may read a quick devotion before rushing off into our day, and perhaps offer a few brief prayers throughout the day (usually at mealtimes), but for the most part we often fail to spend any quality time with God. The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10a).
Another aspect of worship is this – WORSHIP IS CELEBRATING GOD’S PROVISION. After the miracle of God parting the Red Sea, the children of Israel gave credit where credit was due. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (Exodus 15:1-2).
A third aspect of worship is this – WORSHIP IS GIVING BACK TO GOD WHAT IS ALREADY HIS. King David prayed, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” (I Chronicles 29:14). Every good and perfect gift is from above (see James 1:17). May God help us to loosen our grip on our meager little treasures and offer them back to our Father in heaven!
Finally, WORSHIP IS WHAT WE WERE MADE FOR. It’s what we were created to do. Revelation 4:11 states, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Our spirits need worship like our bodies need food, air, and water. Paul said, “For we…worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). The hymnwriter declared:
“O, worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise!”
(From the hymn, “O, Worship the King” by Robert Grant, 1833)
“God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us,” wrote A.W. Tozer, “to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever!” Beloved, let’s heed that call together. And let’s begin right now!