One of the great dangers in living the Christian life is that we can get so busy in ministry, programs, and helping others that we forget to spend quality time alone with Jesus and in simple worship of the Lord. While ministry is important, we must never forget that worshipping Jesus is also a ministry and should be a priority in our walk with the Lord.
One of the best definitions of worship is summarized well by Nancy Leigh DeMoss: “Worship is a believer’s response to God’s revelation of Himself. It is expressing wonder, awe, and gratitude for the worthiness, the greatness, and the goodness of our Lord. It is the appropriate response to God’s person, His provision, His power, His promises, and His plan.”1 I love this definition for several reasons.
First, worship is our response based on God’s divine revelation of Himself through His divine book – the Holy Bible. And the thing that excites me is that the Bible reveals God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and His omnipresent nature throughout the 66 books of Scripture. Just read Psalm 139 and you will be blown away by our heavenly Father’s awesome greatness! Not only that but the Bible, God’s main way of revelation to us, is the most amazing, intellectually sound, and transformation book ever written. It is divinely inspired, supernaturally preserved, and shows me that our God loves me so much, and promises me so many blessings – including eternal life, that how can I not help but want to worship Him.
Second, worship gives me an opportunity to reciprocate in some small way by, as DeMoss says, “expressing wonder, awe, and gratitude for the worthiness, the greatness, and the goodness of our Lord.” As a former atheist, I stand in awe and wonder with great gratitude, that the Creator of the universe chose to open my blind eyes and rebellious heart to the realization, that I was a great sinner who was headed to hell. And then presented me with the glorious knowledge that by accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I could have eternal life! Now, I rejoice greatly that I have the incredible privilege to worship Jesus, who 43+ years ago, restamped the destination on my passport from eternal damnation to eternal glory!
And third, as I approach my Savior, I again concur with DeMoss, that worship is the only appropriate response to “God’s person, His provision, His power, His promises, and His plan. As to God’s person He is the ultimate personification of love and compassion. His ability to always provide for all of my needs makes God my great provider. His power is unlimited, and as a result only Jesus could transfer me from the kingdom of darkness to His wonderful kingdom of light. As to His promises, just meditating on them fills me with unspeakable peace and joy. And finally, His incredible plan of salvation is my ticket to an eternity of rejoicing and bliss in the presence of Jesus!
My friends, when I think of Jesus, worship, praise, and gratitude are the least I can offer up to Him for His adopting me into His family and to His unbreakable promise of eternal life through Christ!
Amen, brother!