two concepts: worship and renown

Tonight I was introduced to two concepts that I’ve always known about but never known. Firstly: worship is an expression of who I am. And I mean worship not just praise. Everything I do, say or think is an expression of the inward Me. It’s so obviously true now that I’ve thought about it and heard someone put words around it. It echoes words that Louie Giglio spoke at Passion 2006: (paraphrasing) that in which I find most satisfaction is that which I will most glorify.

If I find most satisfaction in my job, then that is what I will talk about and that is where I’ll spend most of my time and that is what I’ll try hardest to improve at. I will glorify my job.

If I find most satisfaction in my appearance, then I’ll spend most money on making myself look better, feel better, smell better, etc. I will glorify myself.

If I find most satisfaction in God – in who He is, then it is He who I will glorify most. I will spend time with Him, talking and listening. I will spend time thinking about Him, meditating on who He is. I will spend time praising Him.

Obviously, extending my initial thought means that everyone worships something because everyone does things, says things and thinks things… and I guess I would affirm that, yes, right now I believe that everyone worships something. Wether that something is worth their worship is a different matter.

There is a phrase that is bandied about frequently – or at least it used to be. That phrase is that we should “live a life of worship”. Well, I’d argue that that phrase is redundant. If it is indeed true that worship is an expression of who I am, then to not live a life of worship is to live a lie. The phrase is meant to be all about living in respect to God and putting Him in His rightful place, which is good and true, but if those things aren’t true in our innermost being – in our souls – then simply living as though they were is hypocritical, it’s religion for the sake of religion, it’s pointless.

I must love God beginning from my soul. If I get it right in there, it’ll affect everything else I do, say or think, because it’ll affect who I am, which means that my worship will be true.

Second concept: it’s not about me, it’s about God. God is all for God. He is after the magnification of His own Name. On the face of it this sounds rather egotistical, but you must realise that that idea is because we all too often pull God down to man’s level rather than stretching our minds and grasping to think on His terms. If God is God, then He knows He has no equal… therefore, He knows that there is no one greater. How can ego enter in?

I’m going to bed a changed man tonight due to these two insights.