Worship

Psalm 95:6 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

I read a word study on the term “worship”. The article stated that God created us to worship Him, which is His prerogative as Creator God. Humans are at their best when they are worshipping the triune God of heaven and earth, just as they are at their worse when they are worshipping anything or anyone else (which is idolatry). I remember that fact being one of the major objections by an atheist acquaintance that I was talking to about Christianity.    

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “worship” as: Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness. Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to Him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. The worship of God is an eminent part of religion. Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.

In English, “worship” derives from the old English word “weorthscipe, which means acknowledgement of worth. God has “worth ship” because God is worthy of or worship. Worship of God involves the whole person  - soul (mind, will and emotion), body (head to toe), and spirit (heart and connection to God). We apply our minds to His excellences, our thoughts to His attributes, such as His holiness, mercy and love. Our will submits to His majesty, and our hearts embrace His goodness to enter into communion with Him.

Isaiah 29:13 “Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.”

The study continued that the heart of the worshipper is an essential component of “true” worship with contrition and humility. We all have been created by Almighty God, and as His creatures, we are to worship our Creator God. But as sinful creatures, we are unable to fulfill this obligation apart from Jesus Christ. Sin has perverted our worship and caused us to pursue the created rather than the Creator. Redemption in Christ regenerates our spirit and restores our relationship with our heavenly Father God. Christ bridges the gap between God’s holiness and our sin, establishing a covenant relationship between us.

Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

In Christ, Brian