Worship!

Worship!

Come, let us bow down and worship him; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker. Psalms 95:6 GNB

It is a call for all flesh to come. The invitation is extended to all people, no matter where they are from, who they are or what they have done in the past. It is mortal man who lays obstacles in the way of fellow men, because he does not want others to get to where he is, or to get what he already has. It is mortal man who wants exclusive dialling rights to all things God, and if it were possible, would sell access to the highest bidder. Yet, God has laid out a path of access to His throne of grace, where we all can obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. 

One thing though: it is an open invitation, but I still have to respond by walking in through the open door. Too many times, we complain about our lot in life, not seeing the many opportunities that God places before us, so we can come into His Presence and get all that He offers. He does not force Himself on anyone; He simply asks me to come to Him, and He will give rest. If I respond, I get what is offered. If I do not respond, I do not get it, and I cannot turn around and blame my lot in life for whatever happens to me. Choices have consequences, and all of us have a choice to make: respond or reject. There is no third option.

And it matters where and what I am invited to. Man was made for worship and he will continue to run after that which he doesn't understand until he finds that which is Supreme and Eternal. Is it not a wonder how man has made small gods out of power, position, privilege and possessions. We kill to get them, yet they cannot help us buy eternity. Nature also abhors a vacuum and when the breath of God was breathed into man, that ensured that nothing else will truly satisfy man until he finds that which truly completes him. So, I must pause here again and ask myself: have I found the real and original subject and target of worship, or am I still struggling for clarity amongst all the range of false options available?

And when I come to worship, I am not coming to meet a buddy, who I can treat as I please. He calls me His friend, but I do not let that distract me from the truth that He is God, the King of kings and the Master of the entire universe. He kills and makes alive; He brings down one and sets up another, and does as He pleases and no one can question Him. That is the God I am called upon to come and worship. Let not his mercy close my eyes to the reality of His judgment. Let not the dispensation of grace make me think I can toy with sin and get away with it. Do not let the false hope that God is a God of love blind my eyes to the fact that He is also a God of judgment. He is at the same time the Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, the rock of offence that makes men stumble and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. How I deal with Him defines what I get out of Him. 

So, I kneel and bow down in humble adoration today and every day. He is my Maker, and the One who deserves worship. He leaves me in no doubt what He wants from me and if I will be all that He formed me to be, I had better worship Him the way He wants. I note that nothing is said about what I stand to get for worshipping Him. Actually, all that is important is that I know who this God is and worship him for who He is. When I get that part right, all other parts fall in line. When God is exalted in me, his glory is evident and praise flows out of other people to Him. When I give Him what He desires, He gives me all that I desire. He will still send rain on all men, good or bad, but if I will access the treasures of His presence, worship is the key. Are you willing and ready to offer it to God daily, regularly and sincerely? His time of favour is here.