ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP
Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28 RSV).
Observe that the opening verse tells us to offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. What does “acceptable worship” mean? It’s worship that’s according to the Word; that’s the worship God accepts.
That you “felt” good during worship doesn’t mean it’s acceptable worship. Many songs that many have sung through the years and have called worship were not worship at all.
For example, they’re those who made a song out of what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise….” King David may have composed it, but today, we do not “enter” into the presence of God. The day you were born again, you were born into the presence of God; that’s where you live. In fact, you carry the presence of God in you and with you!
That’s why when someone says, “Let’s enter into His presence,” I ask, “Where are you coming from?” These distinctions may seem subtle, but they are far from mere semantics. True worship is not about emotions, singing, dancing or having melodious tunes; it has to be according to the Word.
The Lord Jesus said, “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” (John 4:23). Someone says, “But I worship with pure conscience.” The danger lies in assuming that a pure conscience equates to acceptable worship.
Your conscience will guide you based on the knowledge you possess. If your understanding is limited, your conscience too will be limited; so, it’s an insufficient guide. The conscience, as the voice of the human spirit, requires training through the knowledge and understanding of the Word to be able to present to the Lord acceptable worship.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the blessing and privilege to offer acceptable worship to you. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, and glory forever. You’re exalted as head over all, and I worship you today in holiness and truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 4:23-24, Psalm 29:2, Philippians 3:3
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:37-54
Judges 5-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:20-28
Psalm 112-113
