Outsider Insight – {Worship Not World}

Outsider Insight
Full of Joy
By: Aleesa McArthur

Worship is a word/concept we are familiar with. Every week, we attend chapel and then go into worship. We might not even realize how important worship is or how it is not just music.

Often times we think that worship is just through music. Don’t get me wrong, musical worship is amazing and beautiful, but worship is so much more! As children of God we were created to worship.

In an article concerning worship, Jayson D. Bradley said, “By default, we’ve come to calling the time dedicated to singing songs in church “worship.” But true worship is really defined by the importance of God in our daily lives. This is why Paul tells us, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1) Worship overflows from hearts surrendered to Christ.” When we truly surrender ourselves to Him there is peace and beauty that comes.

Since we still live in a sinful world, our lives can be messy. As Bob Kauflin says about worshipping, “God isn’t looking for something brilliant; [H]e’s looking for something broken. We’ll never impress God with our musical expertise or sophistication. What impresses God is “a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17) that recognizes our weakness and puts our faith in the finished work of Christ.” Knowing that we do not need to “fix ourselves” before coming to God is relieving. The love He has for us is so deep and boundless. No matter how messy we are, He still loves us and wants us to come to Him.

The story of Zacchaeus is a beautiful representation of how much the Lord loves us despite our messiness. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who was not honest and stole money from people; Jesus knew this. When Jesus was passing through Jericho He called down to Zacchaeus (who was in a tree trying to see Jesus) and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). Jesus did not give Zacchaeus time to clean his house and make it look “perfect;” He saw him as he was: broken. When Zacchaeus came down, he had the option to worship or not. Verse 6 says, “so he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully.” In that moment, he saw Jesus and how much He truly loved Zacchaeus.

Every day we need to kick our flesh to the curb and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We are called to a moment-by-moment form of worship. Every moment we have the choice to worship or let it pass. Once a moment passes, we can never get it back.

As Jaymee Paul said in chapel a few months ago, “Worship is putting God in His rightful place on the throne.” When we choose to place God in His place instead of ourselves that is true worship. Worship cannot just be an outward response; our hearts need to be sincere in worship. As many people have said, “worshipping God does not change Him; it changes us.”

Worship is a moment-by-moment lifestyle. It is not just something we do on a Sunday morning or at chapel on Thursday. Worship truly matters. “It matters to God because [H]e is the one ultimately worthy of all worship. It matters to us because worshipping God is the reason for which we were created” (Bob Kauflin).

Challenge yourself to change the way you worship and don’t allow shame and pride to distract you from the love and grace of Jesus. Don’t be afraid to bring your brokenness and mess to the altar and leave it there. Choose worship not world.