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Daily Devotion: The Word Revealed - Worship Involves the Worshiper Totally - Rom 12:1-2, 1 Thess 5:16&18, Ps 81:1

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Corporate worship of the great God of our salvation should always involve the one worshiping in a very personal and intimate manner.   Therefore, proper worship of God is worship that involves the worshipper totally.  This “involve the worshipper totally” principal is the worship principle where we see the greatest benefit and blessing in our love relationship with our Lord.  In this and the next devotional I will note five aspects of how worship should involve the worshiper totally.  Each of these aspects will lead us to a more vibrant love of our Lord.  Worship which involves the worshipper totally is composed of worshiping our Lord with our Mind, Heart, Will, Possessions, and Bodies.

Worship with the Mind

Every time of worship should be filled with the Word of God which engages the mind through theological content.  As the mind is engaged, the mind, through the work of the Spirit, is changed, instructed, or edified.  The Apostle Paul calls this process the renewing of the mind, Romans 12:2b, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  Through the Spirit, working with the Word, our engaged mind is ready for action, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare  are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” God blessed us with minds that are to comprehend His revealed Word and obey it for His glory.  When our mind is engaged, we see and understand the message of God’s love toward us and our corresponding love response to God.

This principle of worship calls us to pay attention, to think, to meditate, and to discuss the life changing truths of scripture.  Christianity is not a religion that calls us to empty the mind as some religions do.  Christianity is not a religion that asks us to believe without thought, as do the mystic religions.  Christianity is a religion where God in His saving work reveals Himself to us in His Holy Word.  He calls us to study, to think, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Worship with the Heart

Worship is our personal response of love to God.  Our heart is to overflow with gladness, joy, and passion.  Psalm 81:1, “Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16&18, “Rejoice always,… in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Our hearts are to be involved in each component of every worship service.  The heart should be moved by the theological content of that which engaged the mind.   This will cause us to join with the Ephesian believers and speak, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:19,20.)

If we worship God with the emotions of our hearts, then we will as well worship Him by expressing sorrow, grief, pain, and anger. Psalm 22 expresses grief, groaning and pain.  Psalm 73 vents intense anger.  The book of Lamentations is filled with crying, expressions of afflictions, and a lack of peace.  This is the language of those coming before a caring, compassionate, and loving God and worshiping with their whole heart.  We shouldn’t leave all our emotions at home when we come to worship.  We should bring them with us and present them to the Lord for His praise, or for His instruction, or for His forgiveness.

Worship should prompt our heart to be passionately in love with the Lord.  There is no greater endeavor of the heart than sincere worship.

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