BORN TO WORSHIP

 

It seems that worship and service have been written into our DNA. Bob Dylan had written a song, "You Gotta Serve Someone," and it appears to be true.

 

We are devotees, some to gurus and others to rock stars. A video of Michael Jackson fans reveals adoration to-the-max, fans breaking through police lines to just get a glimpse of their god.

 

While some worship celebrities, others pursue self-worship. While some worship by pursuing autographs from their idols, the educated disdain these forms of worship in favor of the worship of SELF-attainments—university degrees, the acquisition of knowledge, money, power, influence, and the adoration of others.

 

Nevertheless, it seems that we are all in the worship business, but which form of worship is the most beneficial? Has our DNA been programmed to grant us a “survival advantage” through certain forms of worship? Well, what advantage do we accrue through self-worship or the worship of others? One breeds arrogance and eventual disappointment; the other breeds vulnerability to abuse.

 

However, the worship of the God of the Bible, trustingly and adoringly, is associated with many benefits—physically and mentally. This is the form of worship our DNA had in mind. As we trustingly adore God, He provides:

 

·       Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:3-7)

 

Real worship is obedient worship, the result of worship. It is faithful to its Savior, even when it only consists of confession and repentance. When we delight and commit ourselves to Him, He will provide. Jesus reiterated this principle in different words. He will provide us with everything we need, even if we have to wait for His provisions:

 

·       “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

 

To adoringly worship anything apart from God might yield immediate benefits, but it will end in disappointment, as it had for King Herod of Israel.

 

Emissaries had been sent to Israel in hope of buying grain from him. They knew how to get what they wanted from him. They praised him as a god. While it satisfied King Herod, it wasn’t worship that he would long enjoy:

 

·       And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (Acts 12:22-23)

 

Herod had evidently lived a “full life.” However, what he had worshipped eventually failed him.

 

In contrast, those who worship the God of Israel must undergo a regiment of painful refinement to prepare them for their eternal reward:

 

·       So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…(2 Corinthians 4:16-17)

 

“Light momentary affliction?” It doesn’t feel this way, but from the vantage point of eternity, this world is only a temporary, though necessary, journey to receive our eternal glory and kingdom where worship and adoration of our Savior will become our daily feast.

 

Worship of the unseen God might feel like work rather than a privilege. However, for those who know the love of God, it is a delight, as it is for His Messiah:

·       And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:3–5)

 

I look forward to the time when His righteousness shall prevail. However, I must admit that it is only after 46 years in the Lord that I now look forward to awaking so that I can worship my Savior. Serving Him has become my delight!