What is worship?

Worship is our response to God and who He is. Therefore, worship is based on God and His character, not us (Revelation 4:8, 11; 5:12-13).

However, worship involves the worshiper. It involves response to God. Therefore, worship, being about God, still involves us and our worship. Yet our worship of Him is a response based on who He is. And therefore, worship remains all about Him. Thus, we, the worshipers, are to be all about Him.

Consequently, worship is not what we decide to make/define it. It’s what ought makes/define us. We ought not worship a god we simply desire to worship or worship the God in a way we desire to worship Him. Who God is ought not only define the content of our worship (God) but the manner in which we worship Him.

Worship is not optional. Worship is commanded. Matthew 4:10 – “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”

Worship no longer consists of offering a sacrifice, but entails the worship himself becoming a sacrifice.Romans 12:1 – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Worship is not simply action but essence, not simply outward but inward. Matthew 15:7-9 – “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Worship is both in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Truth is found in God’s character and His Word, special revelation. Spirit is taking this truth into action. Truth alone is simply built up knowledge–useless. Spirit alone is blind response–ineffective.

Worship is 24/7. It concerns everything we do all the time we do it. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do . . .”

Worship is entirely for God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “. . . do all to the glory of God.” Benefit to the worshiper is not the focus or goal, unless one counts the privilege it is to worship the holy God.

Worship ought to involve the whole of the worshiper. Matthew 22:37 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” True, complete worship demands the emotions, intellect, will, outwards, inwards, etc. of the one worshiping. We cannot deny any of these or we are taking away from our worship of God.

In short, for the worshiper, worship is everything.

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* Originally posted on former blog, I’m Calling Us Out.