Thursday, June 17, 2004
True Worship
Insight for Leaders, from Literature Ministries International is a daily email devotional based on the always thought-provoking, and straightforward writings of A.W. Tozer. Today's edition, "Worship: Discharging Our Obligation," is "right on" (or as the Brits would say, "spot on"). I thought you might enjoy reading it, too.
"Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10
I have to be faithful to what I know to be true, so I must tell you
that if you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not
worship Him on one day a week....
Too many of us try to discharge our obligations to God Almighty in
one day--usually one trip to church. Sometimes, nobly, we make it
two trips to church, but it's all on the same day when we have
nothing else to do--and that's supposed to be worship. I grant
you, sir, that it can be true worship, provided that on Monday and
Tuesday and the other days you also experience the blessings of
true worship.
I do not say that you must be at church all of the time--how could
you be?
You can worship God at your desk, on an elevated train, or driving
in traffic. You can worship God washing dishes or ironing clothes.
You can worship God in school, on the basketball court. You can
worship God in whatever is legitimate and right and good....
So that's all right. We can go to church and worship. But if we go
to church and worship one day, it is not true worship unless it is
followed by continuing worship in the days that follow. (from The Tozer
Pulpit, Volume 1, 51-52)
think on these things...
John 4:19-24 (NLT)
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?" Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
Psalm 34:1 (KJV)
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
