The Offering of Worship
Psalm 96:7-8 - O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Psalm 95:6 - Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
People have things in their life that are worth a lot to them. You have things you value: family, friends, home, work, possessions, etc… You have found these things to be worthy, and by your attitude and actions you have held them in a place of priority and high esteem. But now you know God, and you realize that there is nothing more valuable and worthy than He. Sure, those other things may be important and they have their place in your life, but God is the One who is truly worthy of your honor and your praise. He is worthy to be the center of your life. He takes first place. He is the One worthy of your worship.
Worship is both an attitude and an action carried out in spirit and truth. It is both internal and external. It is both private and public. It is both personal and corporate. Worship is your ongoing response to God’s greatness and goodness and grace. You celebrate, adore, praise, honor, revere, obey and surrender to Him.
Though the purpose of worship, giving glory to God, is the same for everyone, the expression of worship is not. Connecting to God, drawing near to Him, and experiencing His presence in your life is unique to your relationship with God. Yes, the BIble gives some instruction on worship and we see the Church model it in Scripture. However, when it comes to your relationship with God and your heart of worship for Him, your expression of that is unique to you.
Finding your pathway of worship is essential to your spiritual growth. Ask yourself the question, How do I best connect with God? When do I feel closest to Him? Where is His presence most evident to me? It is in this place or doing this thing that you are most responsive to God. You worship God, you call Him worthy in your heart and you give Him glory when you are “here,” when your hands are doing “this.” This is your pathway of worship. Below is a list of some possible pathways. Maybe one of these is yours.
Creation Pathway. Your hands are touching everything. You connect with God through the world that he has made. The outdoors restores and energizes your relationship with God. Whether in the mountains or at the ocean, you feel closest to God outside.
Relational Pathway. Your hands are holding other hands. In a circle of people is where you connect with God. Small groups and community experiences are where you hear God and see His glory.
Contemplative Pathway. Your hands are in prayer. In uninterrupted times alone, you feel closest to God. In quietness, you devote yourself to God and reflect on who He is.
Celebration Pathway. Your hands are raised! You enthusiastically praise God! You see fireworks and hear loud music when you worship God!
Traditional Pathway. Your hands are still. Symbols and liturgies draw you close to God. Meditating on the cross, kneeling at an altar, or practicing a ritual is how you offer yourself to God. It is in these things that you give God glory.
Serving Pathway. Your hands are reaching out. Helping others is when you sense God’s presence. You love God by loving others. You see God in the poor and needy. A serving opportunity is a worship pathway for you.
Intellectual Pathway. Your hands are filled with books. You love God with your mind. Ideas and information from books and discussions lead you to experience God in a powerful way.
Activist Pathway. Your hand holds a sword. To worship God is to confront and stand against injustice and evil. You have a passion to act for God. This is your offering.
Discern your worship pathway and make it part of your daily life. Lean into it. Don’t ever, ever ignore it. Beware of idols that get in the way of your worship. If you discover that you are more devoted to and trusting of some “thing” or some “one” other than God Himself, then your worship is misplaced. An idol might be visible like money, or invisible like fame. An idol might be a person whom you trust and love more than God. Our worship, our devotion, our offering is to be for God only. All glory belongs to Him, the Highest One. He is the One deserving of our praise. Our hearts and our hands are for Him.
More: John 4: 21-24