First, He wants your heart. There is no true worship without the involvement of the inner man. To worship Him is to seek Him and that seeking begins in the heart. It begins by recognizing Him as the true God, as the Creator, as the Savior of mankind. It begins by acknowledging our need for Him, our respect and admiration for all He has done, our thanksgiving for His providence. Give Him your heart and you have commenced to worship Him. See Matthew 22:37.

Second, He wants your mind. Worship is more than an emotional experience; it involves the mind. It is the mind that recognizes God for what He is. It is the mind that determines love and plans appreciation. It is the mind that glorifies and exalts. It is the mind with which we ascertain what is pleasing to Him so that we may know for a certainty that we are pleasing Him. If you don’t worship with your mind you don’t worship at all. See Romans 1:21-23.

Third, He wants your agreement. Agreement with God equals fellowship with Him. It means you have looked at His word and agreed to be part of Him. It means He now has control of your life and that your worship of Him is not some subjective experience you have conjured up in your own mind, but the reverential respect you have determined to be acceptable to Him. You bow your knee before Him, allowing Him control of all that you are. There can be no genuine worship where there is not genuine unity. See 1 John 1:1-10.

Fourth, He wants your attention. Just because the acts of worship in which you participate are approved of God does not assure that your worship is acceptable. Worship demands attention. You can’t celebrate the Lord’s Supper and have your mind on something else all the while. You can’t sing praises to Him and be thinking about your job, or your friends, or what’s for lunch. Concentration is what worship is all about in the first place; it is a proper focus, a genuine desire to find and please the object of your affection. Tune in or you’re tuned out. See 1 Corinthians 11:27-28.

True worship is good for the heart, good for the soul, good for the mind. True worship brings you into close proximity to the Father. It strengthens your resolve, guards against sin, galvanizes your hope, elongates your view. Take heed today and make your worship what it ought to be and you will leave happy and satisfied, forgiven and strengthened.

Copyright (C) 2002-2005 Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.