Greetings in Christ,
When you think of worship what comes to your mind? How do you worship God almighty?
The normal process of thinking for people to worship God is we get up on Sunday, we get ready, and we drive to the church. We may attend Sunday school class or a small group meeting before church and we study a lesson. We discuss what the lesson may entail, and we pray and then go to Sunday service. We arrive at the sanctuary where they may be coffee and donuts, we grab some coffee to drink, we talk to a few people, and when the music starts playing in the sanctuary, we head in to take our seat.
The service moves along at its pace with a song or two with some announcements thrown in the mix along with the offering plate collecting the tithes and offerings. There may be a time of standing and singing with a few more songs and a few people clapping along with the music. Most of the people sing when they know the words to the songs, but rarely do you have the entire congregation singing along with the praise team or song leader.
The singing portion of the service has now ended, and the musicians take their seat in the sanctuary while the pastor walks up to the platform or pulpit and begins the sermon. The pastor refers to the scripture and may ask the congregation to stand or read along with the scripture as it is read, and then the three-point sermon begins. Some may take notes while others nod their head when they think the pastor is looking their way. There may be the occasional amen thrown in there when a good point is made, but for the most point people sit in their seats just to listen to the words being spoken.
Then the moment of truth has arrived, and the end of the sermon appears to be coming, and then it happens. The pastor has asked if anyone has the need to confess their sins or needs to come to the altar to pray for a need. Some begin to squirm in their seats while others are thinking of how to duck out of the service early so, they can get home to watch the sports channel or get something to eat. Then it happens the benediction is given, and the people are set free for another week. Their duty of worship has been complete for another Sunday.
Now many people call this worshipping God. They have attended church and have gone through the ritual of doing their duty of going to church. Did they really worship God?
John writes about Jesus talking to the women at the well. She is telling Him how they worship God, and He tells her they do not know who they are worshipping. They go to a mountain and call out His name but have no idea of who God is. They are going through the motions without really knowing God. Jesus goes on to tell her that it is not just about showing up to worship God at a place, but it will be about worshipping God from the spirit which resides in every person. It must be about the person wholly engaged in worship from the most inner part of their being for it to be worship.
Jesus spoke these words to her, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
So, what is our idea of worship? Are we really worshipping God or are we just satisfied with just showing up on Sunday? Our spirit, the one God gave us, craves to be in harmony with Him. Are we really worshipping God as He had intended? What are we missing when we go to church?
“The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You,
and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The Lord keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:14-21
Lord may we worship You in spirit and in truth, and may our worship be pleasing to You. Amen
Blessings,