Editorial

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
People naturally are worshipers of something. Jesus said to the woman at Jacob's well in Samaria, "Ye worship ye know not what." Such is also most surely the case with many people today. Do you know what you worship? The town clerk states clearly in Acts 19:3535And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? (Acts 19:35) what the Ephesians were worshiping in these words, "Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?”
Under the elaborate system of mythology of the Greeks and Romans, they knew what they worshiped as images and idols, but they did not know who was behind those idols. This is made known in 1 Cor. 10:2020But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20). "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [Greeks or nations] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God.”
Our highest privilege as Christians is worship. The recipe for true worship is very clearly given in John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23). There are two definite requirements. They are: 1. in spirit, 2. in truth. Only those who know God can worship God. Such have the Spirit and know God as their Father. It is the Father who seeks worshipers to worship Him. He desires persons before Him in this attitude. "Thy word is truth." Worship then must be according to the Word of God. There is only one way of approach to God and that is Christ. He is all, the door, the altar, the sacrifice, the light, the Word, the frankincense and Priest.
The essence of worship is that the Holy Spirit can take up our praises and prayers to God in perfect association with Christ. Our place of worship is in the holiest where all the value of Christ Himself is put to us. Worship is the return of the heart to God, known as Father, for all His blessings to us in Christ.
The first of the Ten Commandments is: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Ex. 20:22I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exodus 20:2).3. It is interesting and instructive as to its importance that in the last chapter in the Bible is this commandment: "Worship God." Rev. 22:99Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (Revelation 22:9).
Another very wonderful thing to realize is that in worship we are put in the more blessed place. In worship we are giving to God and the Lord said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).
Love seeks worshipers under that tender name of Father, the name which signifies relationship. Christ and the work of the cross filling the heart produce, by the Spirit, a voluntary outflow of song and praise that ascends back to God who gave it, as David says in 1 Chron. 29:14,14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. (1 Chronicles 29:14) "For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.”
In 1 Cor. 10:2222Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:22) a serious question is asked, "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?" Heresy or evil attached to the place of worship provokes the Lord. He must be worshiped "in spirit and in truth." John 4:2424God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24).
Ed.