Scripture Writing Plan – Theme: Worship
This month’s scripture writing theme is about Worship
Scriptures about Worship – are you surprised that there are a LOT to choose from?
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
It seems pretty straight forward.
But what does it MEAN to “worship”?
The Hebrew word most often translated “worship” means to prostrate (which means to lie flat on the ground, face down), bow down, crouch, humbly beseech, do obeisance, do reverence, etc. So, is it JUST bowing down before God?
The Greek word most often translated “worship” in the New Testament means to kiss, (like a dog licking his master’s hand), to fawn or crouch to – literally or figuratively to prostrate oneself in homage.
Worship, is very much, an attitude. Worship is knowing God is GOD and that He is worthy of worship and praise. Most times scriptures about worship, mention worship AND something else, sacrifice, praise, obedience, fearing the Lord. Having an attitude that God is worthy of worship should move us to ACT in ways that reflect that knowledge and submission on our part.
Considering the definition of the Greek word – is there ever a question that a dog KNOWS who his master is? Even a very spoiled dog knows who to count on for their food and water! The innocent and complete trusting and submissive behavior in a dog is similar to how humbly we are to see ourselves in relation to the Lord God.
Paul uses the image of the Potter and the clay in Romans 9:19-21. The idea being that it is ridiculous for the thing that has been created (that’s you and me) to ask God anything that implies that God got it wrong. Worship is what comes from KNOWING the Potter has the “right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use”.
Why does understanding Worship matter?
As you will see through this scripture writing, we need to be very careful about our worship. While God does not need our worship, after all, He is fully aware of Who He is, He has told us what is acceptable to Him. One thing that is abundantly clear is that acts of worship done without a humble spirit and accordance with God’s laws is not really worship.
We do not define “worship”. God does.
We cannot say that we are doing something in worship to Him while also being in sin.
We cannot say that we are worshiping Him in a way that is contrary to His law.
We can’t decide that a popular song on the radio is worshipful because it speaks to us in some way. It is only worshipful if it speaks of God in the RIGHT way. The tune doesn’t make it worship. My desire for it to be worship doesn’t make it so.
If God doesn’t define it as obedient, lawful, and honoring – then it is NOT worship that He accepts as worship.
So, what will these scriptures about Worship teach you and me?
This scripture writing plan, I believe, pulls together a firm foundation of our WHY for worshiping and obeying God.
For us to have a good prayer life, we need to know why we trust God enough to start the conversation in the first place.
If we are going to meet with the brethren in unity, we need to understand what, and WHO, we are united in.
Showing up on Sunday, sitting in the pew, singing a song or two, partaking of the Lord’s supper, praying together, listening to a sermon is all nothing if they are done without a worshipful attitude. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 tells us to make sure we are looking at Christ, and His sacrifice, in the right way, before we partake of those elements. Our singing isn’t meant to be our own expression, nor our own enjoyment. They are meant to glorify God by teaching the right things to edify the brethren and to teach the unbeliever (1 Cor. 14:15, 25; Col. 3:16). It is only “worship” if what is taught is scriptural (the “truth” part of Jn. 4:24) and if it comes from and points to glorifying God as the Lord God Almighty (the “spirit” part of Jn. 4:24).
Do we “come to worship” because the Bible tells us to? Sure. But God wants more than that. He wants us to GROPE for Him (reach and out and do not let go, Acts 17:27).
Let’s learn how to be like David in Psalm 122 –
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
and to speak like Psalm 146 –
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Let’s dive into these scriptures together. Let’s learn how to be diligent about having a humble attitude toward God. Together we can find our zeal and our certainty about what God wants from us as people who truly worship Him.
Enjoy!
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Wouldn’t it be fun to see God’s word all over the internet this way?
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