The Importance of Worship
By Jonah S.
Worship God concept by Getty Images (Boonyachoat) Created in Canva
What is worship? This may seem like a simple question, but it really is not. When asking NorthStar students what they think worship is, I received a wide variety of responses. Most students described it as “the act of praising God.” But is that all it is? What many people fail to realize is that it is more than that.
In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, worship is defined as “to honor or show reverence for a divine being or supernatural power.” (Merriam-Webster) When thinking about it this way, worship seems more like an attitude or a show of respect. However, that is just what the dictionary says. What does the Bible say about worship?
There are many passages in the Bible that talk about worship. However, the Psalms are literally songs of praise and give a very great representation of the soul of worship. Psalm 119:10-16 gives a picture of what true adoration looks like: “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (The Bible)
Today, many people do not realize that worship is a true attitude of the heart. As seen in Psalm 119, worship is one-hundred percent devotion and love to the Lord. Many people go to church on Sunday and sing many different songs, but that does not mean it is worship. If people do not mean the words they say, it means nothing.
How does one achieve true worship? A person must truly devote themselves to God. Joshua 24:14 states, “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” This means that one must put away all false gods to truly have eyes for the Lord. A person cannot serve both God and something else. Those ideals naturally do not go together and will ultimately clash.
With this view of worship in mind, it is imperative to understand that anything can be an act of worship. In your day-to-day lives, you can strive to put God front and center. The way we interact with others, the work we do, and the things we say all can be to God’s glory. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.” If we can live our lives as lights to the world, our lives become worship.
In this season of Easter, I challenge you to think about this question: What things are currently preventing your life from becoming worship? The writer of Psalm 119 lived in the fullness of God because of his adoration and devotion to Him. If we are not in a close relationship with God, that is probably because our lives are not fully committed to Him. That is why we must strive to devote ourselves to Him and make our lives become worship to Him and a light to others.
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Jonah S. has been at Northstar Academy for the past two years. He lives in the Middle-East with his younger brother and parents. Some of the things he enjoys includes reading, writing, playing video games, watching movies, and building legos. He also enjoys music, viola being his primary instrument.