“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Worship is an act of love and love “flows” outward. Always.
We, the created ones, love God, the universe, His creation, our neighbour, our enemy, etc., because He first loved us. We respond to God’s love. We respond to an initial “flow” of love that reached us coming from God.
God loves because He is love (1 John 4:16). Love flows out. Always.
That is the reason why worship is not a matter of getting (something) or feeling (good). Worship is primarily a matter of giving wholeheartedly. Jesus reminds us, ”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
Once we understand the “heart of worship” we will restrain comments which start with “I did not like…”
The most important question a worshiper can ask himself/herself when the worship ends is, “Was God pleased with my worship today?” or “Was my attitude and participation in worship one of love towards God?”
(Remember, worship means your love flowing toward God).
The Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac gives us a realistic picture of what worship means. Alone with his father now, Isaac asks a poignant question, “The fire and wood are here…but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7).
Isaac noticed that the fire and the wood were there. He realized that, at that moment, their offering was incomplete. Their worship was lacking the most important part: the sacrifice…the giving…the lamb.
Where is the sacrifice? Where is the giving? Where is the offering?
“We love because He first loved us” wrote John. In His love God provided the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Worship is an act of love.
Love God today (and everyday) with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.