Be The Fruit

Worship in your Choices

by Bill Blair on 21/08/08 at 6:48 am

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “worship?”  Do you think about going to a church service?  Singing songs in church?  A type of music?  These are probably the main things that come to mind when most people think about the word “worship.”  Think about it.  For many of us we go to a worship service which usually begins with worship music led by a worship leader, and all of this takes place in a worship center.  Worship appears to be something we do in a specific place, at a specific time, and in a particular manner, but I would like for you to think a little broader about what it means to worship.

First, we know that worship can take place anywhere because Jesus explained to the woman at the well that there would soon come a time when true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and would not be contained to a location (John 4:21-24).  His answer to her question was pointing to the fact that the need for temple sacrifices would soon come to an end through his sacrifice, but it is important to note that worship is not confined to a specific location at a specific time.  Jesus points to the manner of worship rather than it being in a specific place.  He explains that the Father is seeking people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth rather than people who worship in a specific location.

There are different definitions for worship but all generally include reverence and adoration to a deity in the definition.  One way to look at worship is as an expression of love to God.  What does loving God look like?  Jesus was very clear that love for Him would be seen by keeping his commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3).  There are many other references that express this same truth.  If worship is showing our love for God and showing our love for God can be seen in keeping the commandments, then we start to see that worship is much more than something we do just on Sundays.

The truth is that every choice we make is an opportunity to worship God.  When you are faced with a temptation and turn from it to obey God, you are choosing to worship God.  On the flip side, when you are faced with temptation and succumb to it, you are choosing to not worship God and are worshipping something else. When we turn from God in disobedience there always is some idol that we are turning to bow down to.  If you have followed along with Idolatry Thursday, you already know that such idols come in many shapes and sizes.

As you walk through your day today, remember that worship is not something you do just one day a week, but it is something you do all the time. Remember that your choices represent opportunities to either worship God or worship something else.  Although perfect worship is not possible for us at this time, we can choose to strive for perfect obedience because Jesus broke the bondage of sin.  He has overcome the world, Satan, and death, and we will spend eternity worshipping Him perfectly.  Since eternity has already begun, we should strive to grow towards that perfection by trying to worship Him in every choice we make.

Until next time, put God first and “be the fruit.”