A life of worship…

Read:

Hebrews 13:15-16 (AMP): “Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God”.

Act:

In Matthew 15:8-9 (AMP), Jesus says to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that Isaiah was right when he prophesied about them, saying that: “This people honours Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, For they teach as doctrines the precepts of men”.

That seems like a strong statement, but how often do we too go through the motion of “worshipping” God with our lips while our hearts are far away from Him? Worship reveals the true condition of our hearts. It reveals who is truly King and Lord over our lives. It reveals who or what holds the highest priority in our lives. Our thoughts, words and actions flow from the condition of our hearts.

**John Piper’s explanation of what a true worshipper does brings it nicely together for us: “True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things – it is the response of the heart to the knowledge of the mind when the mind is rightly understanding God and the heart is rightly valuing God”.

Let us be determined this week to:

Examine our way of worshipping God. True worship flows from a heart that knows God. It’s only when we know God, and with the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that we can even start to understand and realise the vastness of God’s love, goodness, greatness and holiness. It’s in knowing God and His magnificent splendour that our hearts learn to treasure God above all. It’s then that our lives become an act of worship, adoration, and thanksgiving back to our Heavenly Father.

Open our hearts to God. Our heart can only be truly filled with God’s Holy Spirit, when we empty it of pride, hurt, fear, lies, and sinful desires. It’s when our hearts are fully devoted to God that we can look at others and see how Jesus sees them; that our ears are attentive to God’s still voice, and to the cries of those in need. That’s when the work of our hands demonstrates love, kindness and compassion; and when our feet walk where Jesus leads. Our lives can then be an expression of true worship – as we honour our Heavenly Father from a heart that desires Him above all!

Pray:

Heavenly Father, “there’s no one quite like You among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with Your works. All the nations You made are on their way, ready to give honour to You, O Lord, ready to put Your beauty on display, parading Your greatness, and the great things You do—God, You’re the One, there’s no one but You!” (Psalm 86:9-10 (MSG))
We honour and worship You with fully devoted hearts! Forever.
Amen.

**(Reference to John Piper’s explanation of worship: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-worship)

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