Worshiping God
My wife and I just returned from visiting England, Wales, Ireland, back to Wales and England again, and then Scotland. What we saw were beautiful churches, gorgeous countryside’s and coastlines, and many many people who truly showed their love of God and His creation. Most of these people demonstrated their love by their involvement in those churches, and many displayed their love through excellent examples of care, concern, compassion, and old fashion trust and respect.
While many of these attributes seem to be waning in the United States, there are strong indications that most of the people in our country, do in fact love and worship God. However, where I feel our citizens are lacking in their worship, is by the priority they place upon God and their worship of Him.
In the US, largely because of our freedoms and our relative riches, many of our people put God and their worship somewhere after their jobs, their homes, their possessions, and their entertainment. Sunday morning church services often have declining attendance numbers when the weather is good – or incredibly bad, gardening time is prime, and when local sports, concerts, or other entertaining activities are occurring.
Why is this? Why is God not our number one priority every day, let alone on His day - Sunday?
I think much of it stems from a false belief of scripture. Many take John 3:16 totally out of context; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” While John so accurately portrays God’s incredible love in this passage, many people, especially Americas, who live in incredible freedom and wealth, take this to mean that all they have to do is believe, and they are saved. Thus, people wear their freedom and wealth like a shield, doing anything they wish, because they feel their words, actions, and commitments cannot be challenged because they wrongly interpret this Bible verse’s meaning.
Jesus made it clear that this verse is in fact true, if one believes in and walks with Him. Later in the book of John (14:6), Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is not a free pass – simply say you believe and you can do anything you want, including breaking every commandment and teaching of Jesus and God. Jesus said through Him – meaning through His teachings and Words.
Jesus clarifies this point later in the book of John (14:12): “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Notice this part of the statement; “…will do the works I have been doing…and will do even greater things…” these statements make it clear that living and leading a Godly life is what Jesus is guiding us to do.
The day is coming soon when Jesus will return and we TRUE believers will have to be ready for His return. We do this by knowing His Word and living a life of TRUE Christian values. The best way to ground your life in these values is to pray to, and worship, God. You say you’re not exactly sure how to worship? Well, there are many ways depicted in the Bible and via many church theologies. One of the best I have seen is provided by YouVersion, the free Bible app.
YouVersion has a 31-day help guide to show us all a simple way to worship. I strongly recommend and endorse this as a great, easy, and simple way to build a daily ritual of worship. You can find this guide, and several other great resources, at this link: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/18875-love-expressed/day/1
You can also make daily prayer a part of your worship. The YouVersion Bible app has a daily prayer service. Or you can become a member of our website, and receive daily prayers; https://godandourcountry.com.
Regardless of what method you choose, make worshipping God your top priority. Start and end each day thanking and praising God. All the freedoms, possessions, friendships, and positive things you have and that have occurred, are because of Him. Take time to thank Him and ask Him to bless you each and every day!!!
