Tag: Worship

In John 9, we read about a man born blind who met Jesus and was healed. The challenge to the Pharisees was that it happened on the Sabbath. So, they called the man in for interrogation and informed him that the man who healed him could not be a Godly person, because he healed someone on the Sabbath, which was against their rules.

To that, the healed blind man declared “…if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31). Strong’s Greek Dictionary reflects the Greek word used here for “worshiper of God” is theosebes, and means “reverent of God, pious, worshiper of God.”

What an encouraging and inspiring word for us! His Word informs us that if we are a “worshiper of God” and do His will – God hears us! Yes, Jesus hears our cries for help, our pleas for intervention, our quiet moans for friendship, our prayers and supplications, our pleading of intercession for others, and yes, our exuberant shouts of praise and adoration to the Lover our of souls. He does gladly hear us!

Thank you, Father, for Your Word that instructs and enlightens us that You gladly and intently hear a worshiper of God who does Your will. Oh, may we diligently and earnestly seek to be passionate, heart-felt worshipers who are joyful and faithful in doing Your will.

My wife and I had a pastor many years ago who would say he thought of worship as “worth-ship,” that God was worth our worship, that He alone is worthy of all our worship. 

David knew God is worthy of our worship. He wrote, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised” (Ps. 18:3). In Psalm 29:2, he cries out: “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord.”

Philippians 2:9 tells us, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” 

If God highly exalted Jesus, should we not highly exalt Him with our worship? 

We also worship God because “He is Holy,” as written in Psalm 99:3, 5, 9, and 22:3 “You are holy.” And just in case there is any doubt, God Almighty Himself declares “I am the Lord, your Holy One” in Isaiah 43:1 (see also Isa. 57:15; Ex.15:11).

We are actually instructed to worship Him “because He is your Lord, worship Him” (Ps. 45:11b). Psalm 95:6 admonishes us with, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down”, and also “Oh, worship the Lord” in Psalm 96:9.

We read the desire of His heart for you and me in Psalm 22:27: “And all the families of the nations shall worship before Him.” Also, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, and shall glorify Your name” (Ps. 86:9). 

Our Father knows what is best for His children. He knows what keeps our heart in love with His heart. He really does want us to exalt Him and worship Him, for He alone is worthy, He alone is holy.

“But if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (John 9:31).

Oh Jesus, You break it down to the simple basics for us. You call us to be dedicated, passionate, worshipers that do Your will. And, Your part is –
You promise to hear us. How beautiful, how simple, how awesome. Oh, how You love Your children. May be commit to choosing a lifestyle of worship and obedience to the only One worthy. Amen

   Have you ever had a moment when you were perplexed, stumped, confused? Did you wish you had someone right then and there who had the answers, and who could step up and help you?

   Have you ever felt so lonely, so isolated, so left out that you longed for a dear friend, a close confidant to share your heart and feelings with?

   We read in Proverbs 18:24 there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. We have such a friend. His name is Jesus. We are told Jesus calls us His friend in John 15:15.

   I don’t know about you, but that causes my heart to leap with excitement and wonder. Jesus, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Son of God, King of kings, Savior of all mankind, calls you and me His friends!

   We are thrilled to learn of a prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 that the Lord would give us a sign; a virgin would bear a Son and His name would be Immanuel. And true to the declaration that God cannot lie (Num. 23:19), we joyfully read of it coming to fruition in Matthew 1:23, as an angel of the Lord told Joseph that Mary, a virgin, would have a child, and His name would be Immanuel.

   There is great comfort and assurance in the name Immanuel as it means “God with us.” Jesus promises us “I am with you always” in Matthew 28:20. And He means it.

How can we ever thank You enough? You never leave us nor forsake us, for You are God with us! Our Immanuel, Whom we have the honor and privilege to bow down and worship.

  Praise and worship preceded the birth of our Savior. We read in Luke 1:26–28 how God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary. The very first word from Gabriel was “Rejoice,” which is the Greek word chairo and means: cheer, happy, hail, joy, and rejoice.

   Luke 1:31–33, where Gabriel addressed Mary, fills me with joy and amazement: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”

   Is not the One who reigns forever and ever worthy of this kind of praise and worship?

   Do you feel this kind of praise and worship tugging on your heart to lay all hesitancy down, to say “No more” to apathy and complacency, to absolutely give your all to the only One who is worthy of our passionate and persistent praise and worship?

Rejoice! What a fun-filled, expressive word that causes smiles on our faces. May we allow the joy of Jesus to fill us to overflowing so we cannot help but spread His joy to all with whom we come in contact.