Is worship for me, for us, or for God?
We have the most difficult time understanding who worship is for. We usually say it is for God but we live as if it is for us.
We all struggle with this concept because we all have ideas of what makes preaching, music, prayers, and a number of other elements of worship better. We live as if we are the judge of good and bad, worthwhile and worthless, and meaningful and meaningless.
Worship, without any doubt, is for God and God alone.
But what about me? Is worship somehow for me as well? I believe the answer is yes, especially when we make it first for God. As I surrender myself to God in worship, I am greatly blessed. I am blessed by the Spirit and blessed by God speaking to my life. When I worship God as the only God and the Lord of my life, my life becomes better in every way. Worship becomes my avenue to rejoice in God and enjoy His presence.
At the same time, can worship be for us? Again, I believe the answer is yes. God has a reason for corporate worship.
When I make worship for God, I also help others around me worship. As I see other people struggling to please God with their lives, I am naturally drawn to seek to please God also.
I know many people who have gone through unspeakable pain. Yet, these people worship God and seek to follow Him. Their example of faith makes me want to live closer to God as well. As they sing of God’s love and faithfulness or “amen” His goodness, I am inevitably drawn to praise God as well.
In this sense, worship is for us.
But in reality, worship is for God. It is our opportunity to praise Him and thank Him. It gives us an avenue to tell of His worth and thank Him for His blessings.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11).
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2 Responses
Perhaps I am stating the same thing. And I hope so, as the question, “is Worship me, for us or for God” is addressed by you.
Corporate Worship is an acknowledgement of God in us, as well as, a recognition of God in “one another.”
In Romans 12 “Christians are clearly given a context of what makes a Christian and what makes a people of God. “We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another…” Romans 12:10
It is right for someone who is overwhelmed to receive help. It is right for help to be paid. It is not right to take and leave a brother or sister in Christ diminished; or causing them to be destitute adding to the destruction from attacks perpetrated by evil. Such an individual that profiteers from destruction of another is no brother or sister in Christ.
There once was a model of men who pledged “their lives, their fortunes, their sacred Honor.” Are they all gone? Are we left with Christians being as moths drawn to light as bats fill their belly?
When I was Chaplin of the Old Metairie Business association my charge from God was to bring down the walls between groups of people low enough that others might see over them and see that He was working on both sides. A “Christian” lawyer friend challenged me with his opinion: “A business organization should have no place for a Chaplin. If you want to be a Chaplin, find a religious organization.”
Perhaps others would agree with that Christian’s sentiment: that money does not represent the life blood of a person, that money gained by whatever means necessary is sufficient in itself by its very presence; the one holding it is as a god; that it is there for the holders good pleasure. Now that last phrase, I might agree with in the context of really being a Christian. For in really being a Christian there is no need for Law; and Pleasure is found in the service of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The “well-being” of a fellow member is of paramount concern. Corporate involvement is required to protect the weak, lift the crippled and shield the innocent from the evil predator seeking to destroy by any means possible, to make themselves a god. King for a day, as it were with eternity to pay, delusional.
Indeed, how little things have changed. Malachi’s admonitions has never been more relevant. May the Purpose not be lost in fleshly gains, may we not loose our generational show and tells of His Faithfulness to serve our own vanity. Eternity is a long time; God is not mocked.
Blessings
Perhaps I am stating the same thing. I hope so, as the question, “Is Worship for me, for us or for God?” is addressed by you.
Corporate Worship is an acknowledgement of God in us, as well as, a recognition of God in “one another.” Corporate Worship is the fulfillment of individual Worship via daily discharged disciplined discerning dutifully deliberate dedication. Romans 12: 2&3
In Romans 12 “Christians” are clearly given a context of what makes a Christian and what makes a “people of God.” “We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another…” Romans 12:10
It is right for someone who is overwhelmed to receive help. It is right for help to be paid. It is not right to take, leaving a brother or sister in Christ diminished; or causing them to be destitute adding to the destruction from attacks perpetrated by evil. Such an individual that profiteers from the destruction of another is no brother or sister in Christ.
There once was a model. Men who pledged “their lives, their fortunes, their sacred Honor.” Are they all gone? Are we left with Christians being as moths drawn to light as bats fill their belly?
When I was Chaplin of the Old Metairie Road Business Association (OMRBA) my charge from God was to bring down the walls between groups of people, low enough, that others might see over them to see/realize that He was working on both sides. A “Christian” lawyer friend challenged me with his opinion: “A business organization should have no place for a Chaplin. If you want to be a Chaplin, find a religious organization.”
Perhaps others would agree with that “Christian’s” sentiment: that money does not represent the life blood of a person (a people), that money gained by whatever means necessary is sufficient in itself by its very presence; the one holding it is as a god; that it is there for the holder’s good pleasure. Now that last phrase, I might agree with in the context of really being a Christian. For in “really” being a Christian there is no need for Law; and Pleasure is found in the service of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The “well-being” of a fellow member is of paramount concern. Corporate involvement is required to protect the weak, lift the crippled and shield the innocent from the evil predator seeking to destroy by any means possible, to make themselves a god. King for a day, as it were, with eternity to pay, delusional.
Indeed, how little things have changed. Malachi’s admonitions has never been more relevant. May the Purpose not be lost in fleshly gains, may we not loose our generational “show and tells” of His Faithfulness with serving our own vanity. Eternity is a long time; God is not mocked.
Blessings