Recently I have been studying the word “worship” and the importance of it. I have come to this conclusion that Worship matters! Because every day there’s a battle for your worship.
The things we elevate. The values we serve. None of those choices are made in a vacuum. There’s a war raging for our worship, and it’s been raging since before there was time.
Even before the earth was formed, one of God’s highest angels bolted from His presence, refusing to join the ranks of the true worshipers, refusing to exalt God above all. The account records that in a flash Satan fell like lightning from heaven. Exalting himself more than God, Satan was banned from His presence. Yet, having been in that presence, he knows God is central and worthy of all praise. He’s heard the anthem. He’s seen the glory.
But because of pride, he couldn’t bow. Spurred on by self, he leads a band of fallen brothers, spreading his insurrection to as many as he can. That’s were we come in.
How does satan advance his rebellion against God today? By contesting His supremacy throughout the earth, leading a traitor race to exchange “the truth of God for a lie,” and to worship and serve “the creature rather than the Creator, who blessed forever.” Satan can’t stop worship from happening, but he’ll deceive anyone who lets him, leading them to empty wells and puny gods.
Let’s look at Paul in the book of Acts in the Bible for a second. Remember his message to the men of Athens
In the same way, what God is saying to you will be challenged by the very fallen angels who challenged Him. That challenge is called temptation. Deception. Falsehood. Lies. Theft.
Do you know what God desires most from you? It’s the one thing no other person on earth can give Him – your affection. Although a thousand other people can do the work, give the bucks, fill the gap… no one else can give God the unique affection that only you and He can share.
But just as much as God longs for your love, there’s an enemy who seeks to steal it. At this point you may be saying, “I didn’t start this war of worship – and I don’t care to be in it. I just want to live my life, make my own choices, do my own thing.” That, however, is not an option. Our lives are on loan from God, a sacred trust of opportunities and decisions. And every one of our choices is made on a battlefield with heavenly ramifications.
There’s one more reason worship should really matter to you--- Whatever you worship, you become. You can worship whatever you want, but there’ll always be a last twist to the story: Whatever you worship, you imitate; whatever you imitate, you become. In other words, whatever you value most will ultimately determine who you are.
Let me close by leaving you with this thought to ponder… We become what we worship. If you don’t like who you’re becoming, take a quick inventory of the things on the throne of your heart.
Let’s become the generation that lives to worship Him!
