Shades of Worship

UV 1305/10,000 Shades of Worship
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

John 9 v 31


The prayers of sinners or those who have not been reconciled with God and redeemed bounce off the clouds as if they are of brass. But when we worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, He hears our every word and even our sigh is taken account of by Him. “ Worship in truth” implies that we pay heed to every word that has proceeded from the mouth of God. We worship in deeds when we obey His will as enshrined in His word. We worship in spirit when we commune with the Holy Spirit. The Lord inclines His ear to hear our prayers as a parent would to a child who whispers something.

We submit our wills willingly to the Lord. We do not need the Lord to forcibly subdue us as a rein is put through a horse’s nostrils to make it submit. We muzzle our mouths lest our words offend the Lord. We train our thoughts to please the Lord. We worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness when we wear the robes of salvation and the ornament of good deeds done in obedience to His will.

We should desire to be always at the centre of His pleasing will and not just His permissive will. It is our reading, studying, memorising, meditating and applying of the Word of God to our everyday life that ensures our constant alignment with His pleasing will. Scripture says that when we do so, even before we offer our prayers, He will hear us. We worship God with an attitude that combines deep awe and reverence with love, gratitude and appreciation. The fire of true worship of God once lit in the hearts of believers is never extinguished. Worship is not a ritual practice but a spiritual practice. We can worship God with songs, hymns and praise. We can also worship God with silence and in stillness. God does not desire worship only from our mouths but from our hearts. Our hearts are circumcised or made right for God when we regard His Word as valuable and instructive. It will excise the parts of our being that is not pleasing to God. The Word will discipline our hearts and minds to do His pleasing will. We can also worship God with a wholesome sacrifice. Abel worshipped God by presenting the best of His flock. By excelling in our work and our profession we can worship Him. We worship Him with our whole being by presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice.



Prateep V Philip