The Approach to Worship

Day one hundred fifty-four

There are people in my life that are in need of prayers on their behalf.  The struggles of depression, illness, and loneliness can be overwhelming sometimes. Knowing that others care and are praying for you can bring hope.  So my prayer this morning included pleas to the Lord on the behalf of those that need some extra attention today.  May He be with them and give them the strength they need to overcome their challenges.  May He carry them when they feel that they can no longer go on and may He bless them with the knowledge that they are loved and being watched over.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Yesterday I focused on the appreciaton aspect of worship.  As I reread these verse looking for more information, I was lead to the topic of attitudes we should have when we approach God in worship. Notice the attitudes that should fill our hearts as we come before Him to worship.

Approach with:
Gratitude (vv 2-4) - The Israelite was commanded to approach God with the best of the land. Notice that he was to “take of the first of all the fruit”, “put it into a basket”, and “go unto the place” of worship. Each of these acts brings to mind someone who is appreciative of all that the Lord has given him. He takes the blessings the Lord has enriched him with and he gives of them in a willing sacrifice to the Lord. This is a picture of gratitude in action.

When we approach the Lord in worship, we should also be grateful to Him for all that He has done for us. In a spiritual sense, we need to fill our baskets with thanksgiving for His blessings and come to His house ready to offer that thanksgiving up to Him.

Obedience (v 2) - The Israelites were told exactly how to come, what to bring and where to go. Only those who followed God’s plan were truly worshiping God. 

How important is obedience in our worship today?  Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”  (John 14:15). Since worship is love for God in action; worship can be said to be obedience in action.  Worship always flows out of an obedient heart. If we are going to give Him worship, we must first learn to obey His commands.  True worship requires that our lives must line up with His word and with His will. Only when we are in a place of obedience, are  we truly in a place where we can worship.

Humility (vv 5-9) - The Israelite worshiper was commanded to recall his humble beginnings. He was to remember what he was when the Lord found him. He was nothing but “a Syrian ready to perish” until God intervened and saved him. He was to put on no airs, but he was to remember that everything he was, everything he had and everything he ever hoped to be was all the pure gift of the grace of God.

The same attitude must fill the heart of the true worshiper. We, like the ancient Israelite, must remember everything we have, everything we are, everything we will ever achieve is the result of His amazing, life-changing grace (1 Cor. 15:10).

Today's study session brought to mind questions like:

What am I filling my basket with to offer God?
In what areas in my life do I need to be more obedient so that my worship is more effective?
Do I recognize that who I am and what I have all come from God?

One of my favorie quotes came to mind when I thought about the answers to these questions: 

"What we are is God's gift to us.  What we become is our gift to God." ~Eleanor Powell

What better gift could I give to God than to become the person He needs me to be!