Growth In Worship
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Good morning, Lord
Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…
Memory verse: Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Verse of the Day: 2 Timothy 1:9
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 7-9 Mark 11:19-33
Growth In Worship
What is the purpose of worship? To know God truly and respond with mind, heart and body.
What the Bible leads us to is worshiping in mind and body.
Matthew 15:8–9 (ESV)
8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
No matter what we do in the name of God, if it is not an expression of love and worship, that verse says our hearts are far from Him.
So, we can go to church as much as we can and sing the most beautiful things and our hearts be in the toilet-unless our hearts are worshiping in Spirit and truth.
All worship is a matter of the heart. Worship can be much more but never less than a matter of the heart.
But-the body and heart cannot be separated without death(short of surgery) can they?
So, worship is truly done in heart and soul.
Hebrews 13:15–16
15 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
But there is no true worship in body alone. There may be times of low spirit-depression or fatigue when our hearts are not right and work for God must be finished. Complete your duties but never stop seeking God.
The key to working when we feel empty is to refocus continually. Scripture memory is vital. Focusing on trouble is easy-that is the way the enemy uses it. It is easy to sink. Peter saw the waves and began to sink-storm, waves, soaking wet-danger of death. It was easy to look away from Jesus and let fear take over. He cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”
You can pay the highest fee to the best gym and never go and stay unfit. You can give the most money at church and never experience God.
It takes heart commitment to stay in shape-physically and spiritually.
How badly do you want to be where God wants you? Are you willing to drop all preconceived notions on worship and do whatever God leads you to do? If you were imprisoned for your faith, could you still worship without great music and generated excitement? This is why private worship is so very important-along with scripture reading and memory.
For us to worship in spirit and truth we must know and carry with us as much of God’s word and remain filled with His Spirit as we can-
Living a life of worship equals commitment to living in Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit delivers as much resolve to commitment as we want.
Do you want it? I believe, deep down, in Christ, we all do.
...because He loves us…
Father in Heaven,
I want Your name to mean everything to me. I want to know Your kingdom. Give me what I need. Forgive me for not admitting my weak resolve to be faithful. Lead me away from lying to myself.
Father of all strength,
In the name of Christ Jesus,
Amen
Comments