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