Š 2010 - 2010 Anointed Fire Magazine- AnointedFire.com
True Worship by Katelyn Winkler “But the time is coming –indeed it’s here now – when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 It’s not rare to find that many people misunderstand the meaning of worship. More often than not they associate the term “worship” with the music they hear on Sunday morning, or the songs they may find on the Christian radio station. Although music is a powerful way of expressing our praises and love toward Christ, our worship should not end with the last notes that are played, nor the last words sung. Our worship should involve a daily glorifying and praising for our creator with the very lives that He gave us. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (1 Chronicles 16.29). We have such an awesome and holy God, a God that allowed his only son to be killed in order to set us free, a God that would move mountains and part oceans for you, He truly deserves all the glory and honor we can give. This scripture is from the Old Testament when offerings were given in the form of burnt sacrifices often using animals, you may be asking what can we offer the Lord today? What does He require as a sacrifice? What can I possibly give the Lord that will be worthy of Him? Our sacrifices today are those of broken praises, of thanksgiving, of joy, of our love for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. “And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12.33). By offering our entire self, heart, soul, mind, and body we are worshiping our Lord. This is how we delight our God, by praising and loving Him, our worship is a sweet aroma to Him. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling aroma” (Ephesians 5.2). As humans we have this bad habit of complicating things, making everything messy with our own expectations, but God makes His directions clear and simple. “For God is spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4.24). Jesus instructs for us to worship in spirit, meaning to give all of ourselves all of the time, not just parts of ourselves when we choose. He tells us to worship the Lord in truth, standing upon His word, His promises, and His love. When you have experienced His overflowing love for you, you won’t be able to help but fall over in worship for Him. I encourage you to examine your heart and see if you’ve been a true worshiper. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4.8).
Page 2 of 2 © 2010 - 2011 Anointed Fire Magazine- AnointedFire.com All Rights Reserved