WHAT IS PROPER WORSHIP?
So, how is your cup of coffee today? I still find it so precious to take that first sip and just savor it for a few seconds. How about you? Sometimes, I will go into my sunroom and wait to take that first sip, which is a challenge, until I have my praise music on and open the Bible App to read the Word of the Day, as I then take that first sip. I ponder at times, as I sip on the delicious coffee, how delicious it is to cherish the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to help me savor it more than the coffee I am drinking!
Today, I desire to ponder with you in asking, what is proper worship? What an interesting question for a pastor to ask, you may say, and indeed it is!
A definition of worship may be like this:
“Worship is defined as the act of showing reverence, adoration, and devotion to a deity or sacred being. It often involves rituals, prayers, and expressions of love or respect through various forms, such as music, art, and communal gatherings. Worship can be personal or communal and can take place in various settings, including religious institutions, homes, or nature. It encompasses both the emotional and the physical aspects of honoring what is considered holy or divine.”
More often than not, each of us will define or go quickly to our Sunday worship services as our go-to definition of our worship. We will share our worship either early in the morning or later at 11:00; it is either contemporary or traditional praise or high-church or low-church. We have so many options of churches and opportunities of worship today! And praise Jesus for these Sabbath, Sunday opportunities of community gatherings. Where we gather to sing, to pray, to join with others, in our desire to meet, to hear HIS Word. In order to grow, to learn, to be encouraged and to be renewed!
QUESTION: HOWEVER, is this the extent of our WORSHIP? Yes, stop with me right now and reflect on this important question. Let me ask the question in this way; is that the ONLY time you worship during the week? Has your worship of Jesus just come down to one hour or hour and half on a Sunday Service? If so, are we really being faithful to HIM?
PONDER THIS SCRIPTURE TRUTH:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:1-2 NIV
WOW, now this is a powerful and very different definition of worship! This definition of worship focuses on us living and offering our bodies, as a sacrificial, holy, and pleasing life to God DAILY!
QUESTION: I wonder how many believers understand the essence and truth of this worship? I wonder how often we leave from our Sunday Worship with this in mind—
“Lord Jesus, thanks so much for my worship service today at my church, but Lord, I seek Your help. Come Holy Spirit and help me to continue worshipping You through this coming week! I need Your help, oh Lord, to be open to You daily. I need your presence for me to truly be all You desire for me to be, throughout the whole week. Forgive me Jesus, for taking You for granted Monday through Saturday! Help me Holy Spirit to grasp, to hear, to desire what YOU desire, a daily life of WORSHIP with YOU! In Jesus name, AMEN!
Please know I love you and Jesus LOVES YOU MORE!
Pastor Jerry
