Come and Worship

Random Thoughts...

Published on December 26, 2005 By HC1240 In Religion

Worship, or Service?

God has put the concept of worship on my heart this week… perhaps it's the Christmas season, and focusing on the birth of Jesus, but it seems that over and over again, He has been pointing me to look at worship.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON:
"A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming."

What do you worship?

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

What does it mean to offer yourself as a living sacrifice? “Offer” (Greek: peristemi), means "to place at someone’s disposal"… it includes the idea of total surrender.

“Living Sacrifices” – You know the problem with a living sacrifice, right? They can crawl off the altar.

But the fact is, that although God may call some of us to physically die for Him, He asks all of us to LIVE for Him.

The definition for “spiritual” (Greek: "logikos") is “the reasoning faculty, rational." This says two things to me:

1. This is intelligent worship… not ritualistic or done without thinking
2. It is based on the first part of the verse… “in view of God’s mercy”, it is only logical to offer Him all we have in return.

“Worship” (Greek: "latreia") means “hired service” – I find that pretty interesting, since, as a believer, I was bought with a price... the precious blood of the Lamb of God.

Ray Stedman gives a practical definition of "worship":

"Worship is really nothing more or less than being what you were made to be, and doing what you were made to do. When a flower blooms, it is worshipping God. When a bird sings, it is worshipping God. When a plant grows, fulfilling its appointed task with its leafy arms outstretched, it is worshipping God. When a man, right in the midst of his daily life, right where he lives and where he works, right in the midst of those circumstances is being flooded with God Himself, he is worshipping God. The worship of a Christian isn't confined to those moments on Sunday morning when he gathers with others at church -- that is just our corporate worship -- we worship God all day long. When in some small, or even obscure, way we become the visible manifestation of God to someone -- then we have worshipped."

Jesus told the woman at the well that the Father is seeking worshipers who will “worship in spirit and truth”. To worship in spirit, without the truth, makes you nothing more than a fanatic. To worship in truth, without the spirit, makes you a legalist…. but where spirit and truth intersect, we will see God’s glory revealed.

Brian Doerkson (modern worship leader) says this: “Worship is an act of love; the great thing is that no two people express love in exactly the same way. How has God made you to express love? That’s where the power will be!” When we offer God the best of ourselves, we bring pure worship.

So what is it you are passionate about?

What do you feel is the best of you (either in the area of spiritual giftedness, strengths, or abilities)?

Take an honest look at your life and ask yourself… “How often am I using those gifts, strengths and abilities for the specific purpose of bringing glory to God?”

Guess thinking of a new year has caused me to take stock of my spiritual house

I spent today cleaning. I got rid of the tree, swept out all the pine needles, dusted, and mopped the floors. I also like to take a look at my heart and see what cobwebs are lurking there. Is there something that needs to be gotten rid of? Do I need to pay extra attention to a certain area so that it can be cleaned up? The words of Shaun Groves echo the desire of my heart as we look toward a new year...

Welcome Home - Shaun Groves (Invitation To Eavesdrop)

Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me, come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded

Chorus:
Come inside this
Heart of mine it's
Not my own
Make it home
Come and take this
Heart and make it
All your own
Welcome home

Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet toe be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can

I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still you knocked

Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Words and Music by Shaun Groves
(c) 2001 New Spring Publishing, Inc. / ASCAP

"

Comments

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Dec 28, 2005

good article......thanks for the reminder.....scuse me........got some cleaning to do!!!

jlaur65

on Dec 29, 2005

i remember that song. i love you mama.

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