Blog: Gary Scott
October 29, 2015
The apostle Paul tells us that we are to “grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:15. Are we growing in our worship? Oh, we may attend every worship service, and certainly that is what we ought to do. Hebrews 10:25. But is that all we are doing…attending, or worshipping?
Do we sincerely praise God? Do we address the person of God from the heart in prayer? Do we commune, remember Christ’s death for us in eating the unleavened bread and drinking the fruit of the vine? The Corinthians were not able to do so. “But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.” 1 Corinthians 11:17. They had conditions existing that prevented their worship in the Lord’s supper from being acceptable; there was division among them, 1 Corinthians 11:18 they were making it a physical meal rather that a spiritual one, 1 Corinthians 11:20-22; and some were not discerning the Lord’s body, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. “For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:30.
The fundamental idea for worship is in Colossians 3:16, “Singing with grace in your hearts unto God.” The parallel passage to this is Ephesians 5:19, “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” Our worship is to be “with our heart to the Lord.” The Psalmist puts it this way, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
After the birth of Jesus, “the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:1-2 When the devil tempted Jesus, trying to get him to worship him, Jesus told him, “it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10
After Christs’ death, burial, and resurrection the disciples worshipped Christ and blessed God. “And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” Luke 24:50-52
There are five acts of worship in which we are to worship God; singing, Colossians 3:16; praying, Colossians 3:17; teaching, Colossians 3:16; communion, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and giving, 1 Corinthians 16:1. Let us not neglect any one of them. But, let us do our best to improve our worship as much as we can, and we will grow spiritually.