GodReflection: Is Worship for God or for Me?
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker (Psalms 95:6). Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water (Revelation 14:7).
Let there be no doubt. The object of worship is Holy God. In the Old Testament books, Creator God speaks clearly that He alone is worthy of worship status.

New Testament books show Jesus from birth to resurrection as the direct reflection of God’s image. As God He received and accepted worship.

Often, I have stated in this blog that a full comprehension of the blend of Creator God and Creator Jesus is beyond my little brain. Is it too much of a stretch to use the analogy of ambidextrous hands to help me understand Father and Son? It is to this Holy Duo that I bring my praise, joy, and thanksgiving in the act of worship. In this sense of the Holy Duo, worship is for God alone.

Relationship seems to be a big deal for God.
He gifts we with unfathomable grace. My participation is to be a gracious recipient and a loving son.

For worship to take place I become the giver. I give to God my praise, my joy and my thankfulness for His gifts. I doubt that worship is possible when it’s void of gratitude. Without my gifts and my participation worship cannot take place. My gifts are directed to God alone.

However, the thesis of this blog series is as I bring my gifts of praise, joy and thankfulness to the throne room I do not depart empty handed. Like my acceptance of grace as a gift from God in worship I also am a recipient.

Paul the apostle to the non-Jewish world describes the gift distribution at a worship assembly:

When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up (1 Corinthians 14:26).

In the act of the gift presentation of praise, joy and thankfulness, those assembled receive gifts of encouragement from song and instruction.

Ideally, worship is like an exchange of gifts around a Christmas tree.

Each time we meet we assemble around the “tree of life” to gift God and exchange gifts with each other.

From childhood to an age-tattered adult the gift exchanged at Christmas is for me an annual highlight. There have been years when the stack of gifts piled deep with colorfully wrapped packages dressed in ribbons and bows were so numerous they flowed away from the tree.

There have also been years with limited gift exchange.
Few or plentiful, the number of gifts are not important. What makes these times memorable is gift wrapped love that is exchanged.

I enter worship in the assembly where I offer praise, joy and thanksgiving to God. His Holy Spirit is at work. A song gifted by worshippers enriches my soul. Scripture read from another believer is unwrapped just for me. I accept its word with gratitude.

When prayer is given by one who has assembled around the tree of life my gift may be a wrapped sentence or phrase that speaks to my heart and provokes a silent or vocal AMEN.

An interpretation of Scripture is a beautiful gift that adds color to my walk. I leave the gift distribution worship assembly as one who gifted God and through His Spirit was gifted by others.

Seems like worship is for God and for me, don’t you think?
What gifts do you carry home from worship?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: I Bring my Praise, Joy and Thankfulness to God.

http://www.GodReflection.org

Gary@GodReflection.org

http://www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com