Only when Holiness and Worship meet can evil be conquered
What we worship is not just an entity; it is not just an image or a statue. True worship is much more. Spiritual worship is more than emotional worship or a ritual. Let’s be careful on this point. Worship is not about how it makes you as the believer feel. The measure of spiritual worship is not how it tickles or touches the emotions. It does not mean we should not manifest emotions in worship; we just need to be cautious that we don’t mistake an emotional experience for a spiritual experience. Truthful worship is sincere worship. It is where we get real with God. We can become involved in emotional worship or ritual worship without really meaning it. We are just going through the motions. God expects us to really seek him, not to play church. True worship involves a recognition of God’s holiness.
His holiness means that he never makes mistakes, regardless of how awesome or severe the judgment is. When we are confronted with the holiness of God, we become aware of the need to make changes in our lives. We see of religious heroes or legends who have constantly acknowledged that they are sinners. They believe they are not perfect, the way they probably want to be. They acknowledge the fact that they live in a sinful world, surrounded by the dirt and dust of this sinful world. However, they choose to be holier every day, through worship. The closer we get to God the more we will recognize the contrast between his holiness and our lack of holiness. God’s light exposes the sin in our lives. True worship exposes who we really are. Your emotions do not show your real state, your feelings do not show it, worship does. True worship does.
God is holy. He is pure. He is without sin. Moreover, he calls you to be like him. You might say, “Well that’s a pretty tall order.” Yes it is. Yet the truth is clear. HE who called you is holy, so you be like that too.” True Worship is not separated from practical daily living. Have you ever heard the expression: “He’s so heavenly minded, he’s no earthly good.” It is a clever saying, but it makes it sound like if you focus on God too much, then you will not be of any practical use to people down here. Nothing could be further from the truth.
True Worship does not mean that you sit off in the corner of some meadow somewhere only thinking thoughts about God. Yes, you will do that. But that time with God will send you back into the world to love your family, to serve your community, to work hard at school or your job, to do all things here on earth to the glory of God. True worship will actually make you a happier, better adjusted, more peaceful and more useful person here on earth, not the other way around.
Let our Praise be more than Anthems