God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24 NAS95)
I have struggled with worship most of my life as a follower of Jesus. I can’t sing. I can’t play any instrument. Hey, I can’t even hum a right note, much less carry a tune. I’m so bad at worship that people gave me not so subtle hints about my amazing voice. I get the point.
However, this struggle, especially when I heard sermons on worship, became a conversation with God. He initiated it, not me. I lived under the cloud of worship defined as music, and the conversation with God brought a clarity that surprised me with its simplicity.
Others may cringe at the word God used to distill worship’s essence: obedience. Yes, I did write that: obedience to God’s presence with me. Responsiveness to God’s interaction.
I remember distinctly a leader in our organization quoting 1 Samuel 15:22-23 and that passage sunk deep in my soul. God had already been speaking to me about worship, but this hit me like a lead balloon.
What made it so poignant concerned the personal nature of it. God spoke in first person and He spoke of His voice — the identifiable component to relationship. “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?” That italicized phrase cut my heart to the quick. Do I recognize God’s interactions, and then do I respond with yeses?
Over time that accumulated other passages: “in Him I live and move and have my being” (Acts 17:28), which meant God is local to me. So recognizing God’s interaction and responding with yes because He desires mine and everyone else’s good has tremendous benefit! And it is worship.
Reality: God with me. Reality: God interacts with me. Reality: God desires best. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Real interaction with Absolute Truth, Who is a Person and personal with me. Reality is worship, living in the presence of God who is Spirit, and from that basis of truth.
My world turned upside down, or better, right-side up, and responding to God’s personal presence with me became the understanding of worship for me. Yes, I can’t sing, but giving God’s interaction appropriate weight in my life by responding with “yes” acknowledges His real worth, and that is worship!
I am grateful to God for engaging me with this conversation.
For Reflection:
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array.” (Psalm 29:2 NAS95)
- What happens in your heart and sense of life when you respond positively to God’s leading?
- What are some of the simple ways you regularly honor God through obedience?
