The Pastor's Corner

Wired For Worship
January 22, 2004
By Rev. Todd Crofford
Sr. Pastor
Laurel Wesleyan Church

Where once chocolate Santas and candy canes stocked the aisles, heart-shaped boxed chocolates now jam the shelves. Christmas is past, and fair warning; Valentines Day is around the corner. If you are like me, you may actually look forward to getting one of those beautiful assortments for your sweetheart. Each year they make them prettier and I stand in front of the display and try to pick the nicest one (that fits into my budget that is!) for my wife.

Why do I care so much? It is a natural response from my heart to someone who loves me as much as Diane does. I have an overwhelming desire to do this because of her love and generosity in my life.

If you read this column last week, you will remember that the primary reason God made you was to love you. You are the object of his affection. In much the same way as I respond by giving to my wife, those of us who have come to know how much God loves us respond by loving him. This response, this “loving God back” has a name; it is called “Worship.”

I Peter 4:19 says it this way, “Our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first.” So the first purpose of a life given meaning through God’s love is worship.

In the New Testament book of Romans, the Bible explains that worship is like being a “living sacrifice” to God. We are still very much alive, but our entire existence is for the purpose of bringing him joy.

Now we must be careful not to confuse worship with a worship service. If to worship exclusively meant being in church, then to be a living sacrifice would mean you had to stay at church every minute of every day to be pleasing to God. Nothing could be further from the truth.

So, if worship doesn’t mean just coming to church and singing praying and listening to sermons, what is the worship God wants from us? How do we “love God back?” Jesus once answered that by saying loving God meant learning to love him three ways; with our mind, our soul, and our strength.

To love God with your mind is to give God your attention. Nothing shows love better than attention. Just ask your children what they want most to show love and they will ask for your attention. God deserves your attention during your days. Talk to him. Tell him your fears. Ask his help when making decisions. Give him time during your day. That is worship

To love God with your soul is to give God your affection. He doesn’t want some kind of detached duty. He wants a passionate pursuit. It doesn’t take long to learn to love God back once you see how wonderfully He has loved on you. Getting to know God is far from boring. It is the most energizing, fulfilling, and life altering relationship you will ever enter!

To love God with your strength is to give God your abilities. Paul the apostle once told his readers that God expects us to do everything we do as if we are doing it for Christ. Whether you are home changing diapers or at work changing mufflers, act as if the person you are serving is Christ. Every talent you use and ability you display came originally from God. How revolutionary when we see using these things in the right way as giving them back to him. This too is worship.

Remember that there is no way to compartmentalize your life. There are not parts of your week that are for God and parts that are for you. Every breath, every word, every action of your life this week is an expression of worship. When we see our lives that way we recognize great importance even in the seemingly mundane. It’s all worship when its all for Him.

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