The Purpose of Worship by Ribka Lucman
For me personally the main purpose of worship is not only to glorify God but to invite others to join in and glorify God through our lives.
John 4:23
““Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.””
John 4:23-24 MSG
https://www.bible.com/97/jhn.4.23-24.msg
“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God.”
So as a worshipper it’s not only about how we worship God on Sunday. But how we actually lived from Monday to Sunday. Can the people closest to us, especially our family, feel the changes in our lives. Feel God’s presence in our lives?
Because the way I treat my family and others is an act of worship.
There are 3 things I have noticed in life, things that I should look after:
WORDS
Proverbs says that our words have power. Words can kill. Words can give life. So we must learn to choose wisely. Watch our words towards our spouses, towards our children, towards people around us. Especially during these difficult times. In time of troubles, let us not forget lest we use “troubles” as an excuse to not filter our words spoken to others.
Do not let your words bring death, but choose words that bring life.
MY ATTITUDE
The more we worship the more we can transform our attitude from negative to positive.
Each day I learn to give my best attitude, despite uncomfortable situations. It’s just like when we go to important meetings, meeting our superiors, or people we respect; we definitely give our best attitude. The same thing should apply to our family. We should be under the same spirit. Learning to give our best attitude.
Pay attention the attitude we sow. The kind of gestures we are sowing on them: our gesture in listening, our response when we are facing rejection, our response when we are under pressure, our gesture when we are talking to our kids or even when we are giving orders to our housekeepers.
Remember, whatever we sow, we will reap.
When we sow warmth (kindness), we will also reap warmth (kindness). If we sow love and respect, we will reap love and respect too.
MY ACTION
ANd I learn that most times, my action and my feelings don’t need to align. Because we know sometimes our feelings might be deceiving. Sometimes feelings might control our thoughts. So we refrain from doing what is right and good. That’s why we need to master our thoughts; SO these positive thoughts will bring forth positive actions.
Honestly speaking, I want to tell all of you that as human being, our flesh is weak. There are times when I don't feel like doing it. I don’t feel giving my best attitude. I don't feel like helping anyone. I don't feel like being anyone’s “trash can” - I have my own problems too - and some sort of that feelings.
But, when that kind of feelings come, the Holy Spirit always reminds me to learn obedience. I am being reminded that only through obedience, we can please God. and indeed if we disobey, the loss is on us. We actually miss the chance to be channels of blessings.
If I can use an analogy of a “hose”. Imagine that we are a hose. Through which water flows. If we are clogged, if we leak, in the end, as a “hose”, we will not be used again.
So, if we do not want to obey, we are not willing to be used and bless people around us, bless our family, the loss is on us, cause that means as a “hose”, blessings could not flow through us.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/mat.5.16.niv
So, know that your action matters.
I will close with one fave verse
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” Colossians 3:23 ESV https://www.bible.com/59/col.3.23.esv
“Whatever you do”, what does it mean? It means “anything”. It means whether in much or little, whether it is seen or unseen, whether it is in front of the person you admire or you do not admire, whether it is in front of the person you respect or the person you have less respect for.
Whatever you do, work hearty, as for the Lord and not for men. Because I believe that heaven sees whatever we do, whether it is something good or something bad. If we sow something good, heaven never holds back.
Personal notes:
Ribka Lucman is a humble leader who speaks and sings from her heart. She walk the talk. That’s why her life is so powerful. I’m grateful can called her as my friend, sister and ‘mamak’. Someone who inspired me to be better and help me to find the right focus.
