KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:10. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

What is worship? Someone said worship is singing songs unto the Lord in a slow pace, whiles praise is singing unto the Lord in a fast mode. Well, these answers are not praise nor worship. To praise is to extol, exalt or honour the Lord in words, either by singing or saying it. Worship is rather demonstrating your exaltation, or honouring the Lord in actions. Worship is simply acting out your praise. The Greek word for worship is “proskuneo” The word is from two Greek words “pros”, which means “towards or with regard to” and “kuon” which means a dog. Worship from the New Testament Greek is acting like a dog in the presence of its master. It bows, lies on the floor, dances and kisses its master’s hands. This is demonstrating praise.

In our story from the key scripture, Mary Magdalene, in an expression of her praise to the Lord brought a very costly ointment and poured it on the Lord’s feet. She used her hair which is her glory as a woman, to rub it and also kissed Jesus’ feet. This was an expression of true worship. Jesus disciples did not really understand what Mary was doing. God seeks those who would worship Him in Spirit and in truth. From Mary’s example what are some of the lessons we learn about worship. Worship is motivated by love and reverence for God. Worship is a sacrifice and must cost us something. Worship also means humbling yourself before the Lord. True worship is spiritual, because it considers only God, and gives all to God.

In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of God was brought into Jerusalem from the house of Obededom. David danced to the point that His cloths was almost off. This caused his wife Michal, king Saul’s daughter to frown at him, and to despise him in her heard. She even went ahead and expressed her dislike for David’s act of worship. The Lord was likewise displeased with her and so she never gave birth after that event. God is very pleased with such acts of worship. Anyone who lives in the flesh and so frowns on such acts of worship, will definitely attract God’s anger and wrath. May we always give the Lord, that sincere true and loving worship.

THOUGHT: WORSHIP IS A TOTAL GIVING OF ONESELF TO HONOR GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 95:6. “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

John 4:23. “But 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”.