Becoming true worshippers is the chief assignment God has given us in this lifetime. God is bringing the church to her knees to teach her how to express in intimate, loving, adoring language, her love for him and her appreciation of his blessing and loving care. In addition to what we traditionally define as worship, the Lord calls us to live a life of worship. The Word, our walk with Christ and the works of the church as a whole are all expressions of worship. They necessarily flow out of a heart that is devoted to worshipping the Lord.
Traditional expressions of worship come in the form of songs sung and prayers and praises offered. For some, it is easy to get side tracked or annoyed by someone sitting next to you whose expression in worship may be more exuberant and free than you are comfortable with. Some people are tempted to think, “I'll never learn to be this expressive with my body or hands.” But I want you to know, you will. You will either learn it here or there, that is heaven, because you are going there, and that's what everyone does there.
Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God. We are called to do it for his benefit, not ours. Yet the irony is that we do indeed benefit greatly when we give ourselves to worshipping God. We've been designed to worship. It is our destiny.
In John 4:23, Jesus addresses the woman at the well by teaching her the heart of the Father as regards worship. He says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” He is and has been actively seeking worshippers since he created Adam and Eve.
Right at the heart of this message is that God is calling a people out for himself to worship him. This is not some kind of ego trip because poor old God has a bad self- image. He doesn't need to be buttered up by the loving things we say.
Quite the opposite is true. God knows that the greater good in all eternity is him. Learning this truth and expressing it to him causes us to draw near to the source of all blessing which is God himself.
As we discover and experience the majesty of God, the reality of his presence in our lives, and his availability to us in our times of need, we will be unable to keep from worshipping him. It is a natural and forgone response.
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