Steven Lee Vaughn Music

What comes to your mind when the word Worship?  Is it an activity, is it an event, is it something only religious people can do well? Some people might describe it as a thing, such as music, or symbols or imagery. 

Have you ever wondered what God says it is? 

In the New Testament, the most common word for worship comes from the Greek word proskuneo. The meaning of that word is to display respect in a physical show of lowness or ranking towards God 

To further understand what worship is we can also look at the words of Jesus found in Matthew chapter 15. There he was speaking about people who were seemingly worshipping by outward appearances but something was horribly wrong.  In fact, God did not find their “acts of worship” at all acceptable.  Matthew chapter 15 verses 8 and 9 He said 

8“ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 

Here are some more words of from Jesus in John 4:23 

"But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way." 

Today I want to leave you with a thought that I have drawn from these scriptures: 

Worship is a recognition of the supremacy of God, emanating from the heart, and then it is expressed by actions. 

Allow that to sink in for a moment. 

The posture of the heart and physical expression, are a cause and effect that make for true worship of God. 

All right, that’s todays worship Devotional Moment. God bless, 'Til next time!

Romans 12:1 Says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” 

 This first verse of Romans chapter 12 sets the stage for the remainder of the chapter, which is about physically serving God and putting others above yourself All this is to be done from a place of sincerity of love, even going to the extent of loving your enemies.  Thats right, not just tolerating them, but actually loving them.  This is hard thing to live out and can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit.  I can only Imagine what this world could be if we were to live in such a way.  It would be a the greatest mass movement for positive change that the world has ever known. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as to how you can respond to the charge from Paul in Romans 12. In what tangible way you present yourself as a  “Living Sacrifice” as true and proper worship?

 Religious people say a lot of things about how you and I are supposed to worship.  And funny thing is, It has been that way for a long time.  Even back when Jesus was walking this earth there were people who would put all sorts of rules, traditions and even barriers in place for a person to worship in a way that was deemed acceptable by other people.  As most people would acknowledge, this was and is flat out unacceptable on its face.  Yet somehow, although the rules, traditions and barriers have changed over time, we can easily fall into this trap today. Or, we tend to create our own rules, traditions and barriers which impede our worship of God. 

Think about this for second.  Have you ever told yourself you need to be in a certain place such as a church to worship.  Maybe you feel you need to be alone. Someone else might feel they need to be in a crowd.  At times, many of us feel that we need to get ourselves together more before we can worship God. 
My point is this, we all put limitations on ourselves when it comes to how we worship God. 

So who is right?  Should we listen to what others say?  Or, should we make up our own rules? 

Lets look at what Jesus Had to say about this. I trust what He said much more than what others say, and definitely more than the way I might feel. 

Here are some more words of from Jesus in  found in John 4:23  “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” 

According to Jesus himself there are the only two requirements for us to be able to worship. Spirit and truth!  These are the only two inseparable ingredients for worshipping God.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

Are there any barriers in your life that are keeping you from worshipping in spirit and in truth? If so, ask God to help you remove them and enjoy the freedom to truly worship!

Happy New Year everyone!  Here is a Worship Devotional Moment for you. As we start a new year, I want to encourage you with this truth:  

Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV  

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Go  

I pray today that you will enter this new year with your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus in everything you will to accomplish.  That you will let Christ be the Joy that is before you, all the while knowing, that you are His JOY!!!