“Oft we come together, oft we sing and pray.”  Do you ever have trouble concentrating on things you do often?  Have you ever driven somewhere and realized that you took turns and stopped at lights while your mind was wondering in another place?  The truth is, the more we do something, the more difficult it is to give it our full attention.

 

Worship works the same way.  There is always the danger that our bodies are present in the pew but our minds and hearts are far away.  But the Lord demands that our worship be done in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).  That involves active participation from each participant.

 

We do these things often.  That does not take away our responsibility to engage in true worship.

 

True worship is seeking God not just saying prayers.  After Herod killed James the apostle, he put Peter in prison and planned the same fate for him.  What did the disciples do when they heard?  Where did they turn?  “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God” (Acts 12:5).  The word fervently means “continuously, without ceasing” and can also be translated eagerly or earnestly.  When we pray together as a church, it is not just a tradition to keep because we finished the first two songs.  It is an expression of our faith in God to do what we cannot.  If the fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (Jam. 5:16), can you imagine what can be done by a whole church who seeks Him earnestly?

 

True worship is praising God not just singing songs.  “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).  Our singing reaches across the pew for sure.  We “teach and admonish one another” (Col. 3:16).  But we must also remember that our songs reach up to God’s throne in heaven.  We sing to Him first.  If it does not glorify Him, it doesn’t matter how good it sounds.  Israel did not “sing to the Lord a new song” (Psa. 96:1) because they were tired of the old ones.  They did so because God had done something so wondrous for them and was worthy of a new song to express their thanksgiving.  Surely our Creator still deserves such praise from those who are made in His image.

 

True worship is remembering God not just partaking of communion.  The Israelites observed the Passover to remember their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt.  Should their children ask their parents about this feast in generations to come, they were to say, “It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord” (Ex. 12:27).  It wasn’t about them; it was about Him.  In the same way, we partake of “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20).  It belongs to Him.  It’s about Him.  When we share in this memorial, we remember the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins and proclaim His death until He comes.  He delivered us from bondage and made us alive together with Him.  Let us not forget.  He is worthy of our worthy manner.

 

True worship is thanking God not just giving money.  The churches in Macedonia were commended by Paul for their generous nature.  Why were they so willing to share their blessings?  Because “they first gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:5).  When you recognize that God is the one who gave you everything you have, you will have less trouble returning a portion to Him.  We don’t contribute to the church; we give to the Lord, trusting that He will continue to provide for our needs.  Be thankful that you have the privilege of giving back to Him who gave all.

 

Worship is hearing God not just listening to sermons.  Paul reminded the church in Corinth that “the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment” (1 Cor. 14:37).  In the next verse, he admonished them to pay no attention to the person who refused to acknowledge this.  They were not Paul’s words or opinions.  They came from the ultimate Authority.  In our relationship with God, we are not in a position to do all the talking.  We must hear Him.  We must listen carefully to His commandments.  We must apply His will to our lives.  It is just one way we show reverence for His word.

 

“Help us Lord Thy love to see, may we all in truth and spirit worship Thee.”  Keep God in the center of your mind in worship today.  This is, after all, the Lord’s day.