Based on “What God Wants” by Pastor Dean Corns; 5/19-20/12,
Message #DC140; Daily Devotional #2 - “True Worship”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): If someone asked me what the highest form of worship would be, I would have to answer with Scripture. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Our worship comes through love. How do we show we love God? And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6) Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23) So often, when we think about worship, we only think about singing. Yet it encompasses so much more and takes into account our whole being. As we worship God, we will do it with our mouths, our minds and our actions.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): In the dictionary we find many modern uses for the term ‘worship,’ yet when we look at what it meant when the translators first started using it, I think we get a better picture. Worship - ORIGIN Old English weorthscipe: ‘worthiness, acknowledgement of worth.’ How do we acknowledge the worth of something? For one, we pay the price for it. Another, we hold it dear and protect it or handle it with care. Can we honestly say these apply to our relationship with God? Are we willing to pay the price to say Jesus is truly worthy? And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Today, as you go about your day, give thought to how you are worshiping God. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Today let’s worship God with all our being by loving, obeying and giving Him glory.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 5:15-21
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Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.