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Worship is a topic that is dealt with from the very first book in the Bible right through to the last. The Bible's emphasis on it would seem to indicate that it's a very important subject.
And yet, worship is so often misunderstood or ignored by Christians. Perhaps there is confusion about the spiritual nature of worship.
John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
The Father is seeking true worshipers.
Ps 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
We are commanded to worship the Lord; to refuse to worship Him is disobedience.
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
We get out of it what we put into it.
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
We don't have to feel like worshiping God to worship Him.
God is looking for true worshipers who worship Him is spirit and truth; that doesn't mean we have to feel like it.
Ps 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
God is good regardless whether we feel like it or not.
What's in it for me?
Ps 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. (6) Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, (7) to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; (8) to bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) to execute on them the written judgment; this honour have all His saints. Praise the LORD!
When we make the effort to be involved in praise and worship regardless of how we feel, God does great things in the spiritual realm. (See 2 Chron 20:1-25)
Ps 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Worshipers should worship in holiness, which means that our hearts need to be right in the sight of God.
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
It means that our confidence is not in our flesh (our own goodness or abilities) to bring us into God's presence, but in the work that Christ did on the cross to make us acceptable to the Father.
Prov 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...
Prov 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
The key to understanding God's desire for worship is not how it affects Him, but how it affects us.
God is totally self-sufficient, so He needs nothing, certainly nothing that we could supply.
So God's desire for us to worship Him is entirely for our benefit.
As seen the in the above verse, what goes on inside our hearts and our thinking is what determines the course of our lives.
God therefore wants us to think thoughts that will keep us on the right track.
What sorts of thoughts keep us on the right track?
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
Everything in this verse is a description of what we should be thinking about when we worship God from the heart.
If you like these Topical Bible Studies, don't forget to check out our Expository Bible Studies too.