Worship is a Lifestyle

"It's a lot easier to sing a song than it is to stop and touch the broken. It's a lot less taxing to go to church than to take 'church' to the world. But sharing with others is a sacrifice of worship that makes God smile." ~ Louie Giglio; The Air I Breathe

Worship isn't just about music. Worship isn't an activity that is planned and programmed. Worship is glorifying God with out lives. When we seek to honor God, we worship Him.

Worship happens anytime and anyplace. It happens Sunday mornings at church. It happens Wednesday night at Bible Study. It happens when we chat with our neighbor. It happens when we serve those in need. It happens when we show love to the lonely. Worship is what being a Christian is all about.

Worship is a life lived in response to God. God has given us so much. We owe Him every breath we breathe. He is responsible for our talents. He has given us blessing after blessing. Only a life of continual praise can honor God's gifts to us.

{15} With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.{16} Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing go God. (Hebrews 13:15-16; NLT)

This passage in Hebrews we see three important aspects of worship:

1. Worship is done through Jesus. A person cannot truly worship God unless he has first given his life to Jesus. It is Jesus who makes us acceptable in God's sight, and thus makes our worship acceptable. It is also Jesus' life which models the life of worship we are to live. Jesus made it clear that His life was about glorify God; "I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do" (John 17:4; NLT). By using Jesus as an example we begin to understand what it means to live a life of worship.

2. Sacrifice is essential to worship. In order to worship God we have to give up things that are important to us. God doesn't expect us to do this to make our lives miserable, but because He alone can make our lives truly happy. Sacrifice is an indication of the love we have for God. We only worship what we value the most. If we are unwilling to sacrifice money, entertainment, time, relationships, or hobbies for God then it is proof we love something else more than we love God. Sacrifice reveals where our hearts are.

3. Helping others is worship. Serving those in need is a primary part of worship. The reason is because it gives other people the opportunity to praise and honor God. So many people don't praise God because they don't know the love He has for them. Through our service we become vehicles of God's love and thus allow these people to experience God's love.

If we are really interested in worshiping God we will want others to join in that worship.If we relegate worship to a once a week activity of singing and communion then we have missed the bigger picture of what worship really is. Worship is about honoring our Creator in everything we do. It is a response to God for all that He has given to our lives. The time for worship is now.

Visit Paul's new blog at www.paulsponderings.com.

Follow @PaulBSteele