How do we worship? What are we “allowed” to do while still being reverent before the Lord, worshiping in spirit and truth? What is God's desire for our worship? Does He give us the right to pick and choose how we worship?
Over the course of this multi-part devotional, we will discover and learn the ways that we can actively worship God when we come together as the gathered Church. We are told in Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth that our mere existence, even eating or drinking, can be worship to God; so we understand that our worship is not confined to a time or a place—it is a lifestyle. This mini-series is intended to develop our worship as it pertains to the intentional physical and spiritual acts that we do during our worship. Granted, these things can (and should) be done whether we are at church or not. My hope is that churches and believers everywhere, will experience true freedom in worship together—a glimpse into what heaven may be like one day. God desires us to worship in this way. Let’s learn together.
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
Part 2: In Truth
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’” John 14:6-7 (NLT)
"For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.” Colossians 1:4-5 (NLT)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1
We worship Truth Himself. The more time we spend in communion with Him, the more He will reveal to us and the more we will understand. Our faith and love for God and others are inspired by the truth of the gospel and what God has done for us. We worship Him because we understand the gospel message, the Good News that the world does not understand and refuses to believe. “Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers. . . . On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine.” (John Piper, desiringGod.org)
We are called to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, and there is no way to do one without the other. We worship in spirit because we are born of the Spirit, and we worship in truth because we know the truth that has been revealed to us. These things together should inspire worship and love that involve all of our being. Whether the worship atmosphere or the circumstances around us are conducive to moving us or if they are grating against us, our hearts for worship should not be hindered or swayed. The heart of worship is the heart, and we are worshiping the One who has captured both our hearts and our minds. We worship in spirit and truth.
“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. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 (NLT)