O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Psalms 95:6
O come, let us worship, for He is our God, and we are the pasture, and the sheep of his hand [Psalms 95:6-7]. Is He, our God? Are we the sheep of His pasture or someone’s else pasture? When I think of sheep in the pasture, I think of peace, rest, and serenity. Yet, for many it is anything but that. Our soul is not in a peaceful state to where we can worship. For some worship does not apply to them at all. Many times, I have heard the excuses of I can’t sing, therefore I cannot worship. This is far from the real truth, and it is not because you cannot carry a tune. If King David can be made a fool by dancing and singing before the Lord, then so can we. O come, let us worship and bow down to the Lord our God. Can we not bow down to our Lord? Maybe we should ask God as to why we are not able to bow down and worship our Lord.
The interesting thing is that many can go to a rock concert and have no problem worshipping the band who is playing the music. I have seen many people whisper the words of the song and singing even when they know they are not singing in tune. You can whisper the words of praise to our Lord God. The Hebrew word for worship is “shachah” which means to bow down before another. This word for worship takes on action in that we must be doing something before another and that is bowing down or prostrating ourselves in homage to the Lord God. Can we recognize and respect God for who He is? Can our hearts not become hardened before our Lord, but rather instead can we have a willingness to follow him into the green pastures. It is the green pastures where we bow our heads and eat the food and drink in the living waters of His life. The word willingness is the key to new heights in revelations and visions. We must remember that true worshippers can only worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Nothing else matters to the Lord then to have his children come and sit before him and truly worship him. As we worship him new revelations come forth and His healing begins to flow by his Spirit to those who need it within the congregation.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.”
John 4:23
The Father seeks those who are in the spirit and in truth to worship Him. Why? Because God is a Spirit. Now listen carefully what the apostle Paul said, “Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Liberty means to be free from oppression. Free from bondage and from whatever yoke we may have had around our necks. If we cannot worship, we must have some kind of bondage that is keeping us from worshipping our Lord. Did not Christ make us free from any yoke of bondage? If we have liberty, we have peace. What the world needs now is love, sweet love as the song lyrics state, but we must also have peace. Jesus Christ is our peace, for he has overcome the evil one. We are no longer under Satan’s power. We now can have peace with God. That is why the apostle Paul exclaims in the following scripture to:
Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast my friend, in the freedom you have in Christ. Stand fast means to not yield yourself to any other position. Christ is our sure foundation, and He is our peace. Let us be assured to whom we are worshipping. Let us be honest within our own heart where we stand. We must hear the words of Jesus when He mentioned about God’s commandments versus man’s tradition. Why did Jesus say that with their mouth, and lips they honor me, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, [see Matthew 15:8-9]. Teaching the commandments of men instead of God. Are we free in Christ from the things which the world would bind us? Are we free from severe self-discipline to any form of righteousness or from any form of indulgence? Do we not live under the grace of God? One must remember that God had the physical temple built upon the earth, but even the rituals of the temple could not change men’s conscience toward God. We can only receive a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the perfect sacrifice for all our sin. If we live and walk in the spirit of Christ, then we can also worship in spirit and in truth. Our worship is not in vain since our conscience has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The whole point of the issue of traditions, is that it becomes men’s way instead of God’s way. Worshipping God should not become a burden in practice. If it is a burden, then one must look at the heart as to why it is a burden. If worship is a burden, then we must ask God to search us and to reveal the cause. We must remember that it is Christ who reconciled all things unto himself [see Colossians 1:20]. Reconcile means to change thoroughly. I am changed in my actions and thoughts from doing evil to doing good. He is renewing us every day to have a right spirit. He will restore us with the joy of his salvation. Let us examine ourselves and repent from anything that may withhold us from worshipping the Lord. Let us ask the Lord to give us a heart of worship. A heart of worship that is directed by the Holy Spirit where the gifts of the Spirit are displayed to the glory of God.
When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
1 Corinthians 14:26
When we come together the gifts of the Holy Spirit are working within the congregation to the edifying of every person within the body of Christ who hears and listens to the message. We can also worship and sing unto the lord a new song and declare His works within the congregation. In our own personal time, we can worship and sing to the Lord any time of the day. This is exciting and for many of us we have yet to get to this special place of worship. In reality, if you live and walk in the Spirit, every moment becomes a time of worship since we are considered the living temple of God. We just have to acknowledge it and believe that He will dwell and walk with us.
For you are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
2 Corinthains 6:16
When we get to this place of worshipping Him every day, our walk will be in the character of Christ where love and peace reigns. This is the place I myself desire to be. No matter what is happening around me, I desire to be in His love and peace every day. As we come close to the end of this year with only 6 weeks away until Christmas day, let us remember to whom we are worshipping. Many are wondering how they can buy gifts for their own family. Remember it is the little things that you do that counts. Tell your children that you love them and hug them close, for they are a heritage from the Lord. Tell your wife or husband that you love them. Remember that we all labor together in Christ and He is our example. Let us remember the babe born in Bethlehem and sing Christmas songs with the family. This is a small example of worship to our Lord, and it may help you to understand its meaning just a little bit better. The joy of an infant born in this world and who becomes our sacrifice is worth singing about.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:13-14
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward all men. Christ was born in Bethlehem and has become our salvation. Christ is our peace for He has reconciled us back to God. Let not our heart grow weary in giving Him praise every day. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his Holy Name [Psalms 103:1]. No matter where you are today, you can worship him from your own lips and read Psalms as another way of worshipping our Lord God. It is your heart of worship as his child that He desires. Whatever rituals we may perform will perish with the using, but His love will endure forever along with His word. Let us be the sheep of His pasture. Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let us have a willing heart of worship. O come, let us worship and bow down.
NOTE: This is the last devotional for the year 2022. Check back after the New Year for next year devotionals. In the meantime, you can read any devotional that you may have missed during this year. I pray that God’s blessing be upon each person who has read these devotionals. I pray that God may draw you close to him. We all live in a world that is full of uncertainty. However, no matter what the circumstances we may find ourselves in, God is with us. He will perform and show himself to each individual His works of healing and provision. Stand firm in whom you believe in and go with God. Count it a blessing to be with friends and family this Holiday season. Check out the “All About Worship” page to read more and to listen to over 3 hours of worship songs. Now is the time to worship, for He dwells within you.