How Do We Worship?

What does it mean to worship? Is it singing hymns, saying prayers, hearing sermons? While each of these may be a part of our worship they do not necessarily constitute worship. There are many examples of worship in the Bible. Today we look at the example of the magi coming to worship Jesus, recorded in Matthew’s gospel:

Matthew 2:1–12 NIV84

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Made an effort

Took time to prepare

Set aside their own affairs

Traveled to Bethlehem

The magis travelled hundreds of miles, left homes and families in order to worship Jesus. They were willing to make this journey because of its importance to them. Is worship important to us? Are we willing to come and worship even when it’s not convenient for us?

Followed God’s leading

The star

The Scripture

God guided the magi. God has given us direction in what we are to do.

John 4:23 NIV84

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Saw the child

The magi didn’t look at the humble lodgings, they weren’t distracted by the animals or activities around them, they didn’t criticize the parents for their poverty.

The focus for the magi was the Christ child. Do we focus our thoughts on Jesus’ presence?

The central part of our worship is not how we worship but who we worship.

Bowed and worshiped

The word used most often in the NT for worship means to bow or kneel down

Both an attitude and an action, with the attitude being primary. When there is an attitude of worship it will show itself in outward actions, if the proper attitude is not there no amount of activity will be worship.

Matthew 15:7–8 NIV84

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

True worship is an expression of reverence and adoration. It is an acknowledgement that we are in the very presence of Almighty God, our Creator and Lord. This is no mere ritual we perform, we are not here to play a game or socialize with others, it is not something to be done out of habit. Our worship is our response of awe to the glory of the Eternal One, our wonder at the grace and mercy He shows us.

Presented their treasures

The magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The treasures we bring may be as simple as our presence, our time. What God wants is our lives, presented in loving devotion, open to the working of His Holy Spirit.

Obeyed

Went home another way

God revealed to the magi what they were to do. When we worship God may reveal to us what He wants us to do.

1 Samuel 15:22 NIV84

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

William Temple once said:

Worship is the nourishment of the mind upon God’s truth. Worship is the quickening of the conscience by God’s holiness. Worship is the cleansing of the imagination by God’s beauty. Worship is the response of my life to God’s plan for my life.

As we prepare to come to the Lord’s Table, we remember that worship is not about us but about God coming to us in Jesus Christ, it is not about what we get out of it but about what we give to Him. May our hearts be rightly tuned to His presence.