Lesson 315: "Do We Measure Up?"
We, Christians, are the Temple of God and we are being measured to see if we are truly worshiping God. The meaning of worship is to adulate, honor, glorify, edify and deify. The Greek word “proskuneo” means gesture of respect such as to bow in reverence. Strong’s defines it as “to fawn or crouch; to literally or figuratively prostrate oneself in homage and adoration. The Hebrew word “shachah” means bow down, crouch, fall down, humbly beseech and/or stoop. Worship is reverencing God by physically bowing before Him but a deeper study shows that it is more action of the heart and mind than a physical position.
With the advent of the Messiah the time came for a new order of worship. True worshipers are those who realize that Jesus is the Truth of God (John 3:21, 14:6) and the one and the only Way to the Father (Acts 4:12). To worship in truth is to worship God through Jesus; to worship in Spirit is to worship in the new realm which God has revealed to people. The Father is seeking true worshipers because He wants people to live in reality, not falsehood. Everybody is a worshiper (Romans 1:25) but because of sin many are blind and constantly put their trust in worthless objects. “These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:8-9).
Worship is an attitude of totally and unconditionally surrendering to the One and only God; our Lord and Savior. Words alone are not enough to call worship therefore many, like myself, need to get into an “unnatural” position, such as prostrate, in order to forget about me and concentrate on God. When one gets out of one’s comfort zone then a true relationship with God begins to develop. Bowing and worship go hand in hand in the scripture (Matt. 4:9-10, Ps. 95:6, Gen. 24:52, Job 1:20, 2 Chro. 7:3) and look what happens in heaven (Rev. 19:4).
What would you think of a worship service where every person present bowed down so low that their faces touched the floor? No? Then what if every person knelt on the floor in front of the pew they were sitting in? No? Then what if everyone stormed the altars at the front of the church? Would any of the above make you feel uncomfortable? Would it feel “right”? Would you think this to be overboard? What would Jesus do? What did He do? “He withdrew, knelt down, prayed earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:39-44). Prayer is earnest worship and should not be rushed or taken lightly. Want to measure up? “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chro. 16:9).