Worship – Part 1

Worship is so central to every religion, especially the Christian faith. It is at the very heart of our faith. Worship is the means by which we relate to God. Be it corporate worship or personal worship, God is interested in both kinds of worship.

The word: “worship” comes from the Latin word meaning, “worth-ship.” In worship, we express and show the worth of God to us. Worship is also from the Hebrew word, ‘Schachah,’ which means to bow in reverence or in submission. In worship, we not only stress the worth or worthiness of God, but also bow our hearts in reverence to Him.

According to Exodus 19:6, God’s purpose for Israel was to be a community of priests, that is, those who are to offer sacrifices of worship to God. Worship is the greatest sacrifice we can offer to God. Like the Westminster Catechism says, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” One way to enjoy God is to worship Him. A.W Tozer wrote, “God formed us for His pleasure, and so formed us that we, as well as He can in divine communion enjoy the sweet mingling of kindred personalities.”

In First Peter 2:9, 10, the apostle Peter re-echoes Exodus 19:6 in a different way. He says: “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do His work and speak up for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted” (MSG).

The book of Revelation chapters 4 and 5 reveals that worship is an on-going activity in heaven, which we shall all participate in all through eternity. “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him, Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him, Who sits on the throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev.4: 8-11).

For now, it is God’s plan to fill the earth with image-bearing worshippers. As worshippers spread, the glory of God would be seen throughout the world God has created. When Jesus interacted with the woman of Samaria, He said God is seeking for true worshippers, who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn.4: 22-24).

God is seeking for true worshippers. We have many Churchgoers, but few worshippers. We have many Bible carrying, blessing seeking Christians, but few worshippers.

The heart cry of God is for the emergence of genuine worshippers, whose heart is after Him and who would stir His heart through their worship. As many who will commit themselves to worship God in spirit and truth will share in the Father’s blessings. Contact: pastoracukachi@gmail.
com