Made to Worship

When you hear the word “worship," what do you think of?  Music, church, idols, an event, a place?  Maybe you think of an action, like something you do, or maybe it's sitting quietly and doing nothing, except resting.  Many definitions can describe worship, but the best definition I continue to use is from Louie Giglio, who says, “Worship is OUR RESPONSE to God, for who He is and what He has done.”  Listen that again: “Worship is OUR RESPONSE to God, for who He is and what He has done.”  

I have come to understand that worship is not an event.  Worship is not something a person does for an hour on Sunday morning, leaving it behind as one goes on to the next event in life.  On the contrary, I believe strongly that worship is a believer’s RESPONSE to God every minute of every day, week, month and year, until we die.

Romans 12:1 clearly describes worship with this mindset.  “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.”  We see in this life-changing verse amazing instruction for us from God.  We see that worship is from God and for God.  We see that worship is an offering of ourselves to God.  We see that by offering our lives to God, it pleases God.  And lastly, we see that this is what God requires of us as followers - to worship God because this is true, authentic and right in His sight.

The chorus of a popular Chris Tomlin song reminds us that “You and I were made to worship.  You and I are called to love.  You and I are forgiven and free.  When you and I embrace surrender. When you and I choose to believe.  Then you and I will see what we were meant to be.” We are made to worship God.  Our focus and attitude are keenly fixed of Jesus, all day, every day.  That is worship.

So, this weekend when you come to church, to "worship," I invite you shift your focus, to see this time as more than an event you participate in for an hour on Sunday.  Renew your thinking to view Sunday morning Worship Service as an important time of meeting with other worshippers who have lived through the week as a living sacrifice to God and are meeting to celebrate God, praise God and respond together as the body of Christ to God for who He is and what He has done.

"Here I am to worship.  Here I am to bow down.  Here I am to say that you're my God.  You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me."

Watch this video - Preparing for worship this weekend  
Made to Worship https://vimeo.com/74422633