Worship is more than religious activities or singing songs – it's a matter of the heart. That’s why, whether we realize it or not, we all worship something. The real question is: who or what are we worshipping? Anything that replaces God in your heart, or anything that would make life feel meaningless if you lost it, is your true object of worship. But why is it so important to know what true worship is?  

Worship is our proper response to who God is, what He has done, and what He will continue to do in our lives. If we aren’t excited to worship God, it’s a warning sign that our relationship with Him needs attention. Worship is so important that Jesus taught about it. He taught that true worship is centered on God, that it is done in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), that it isn’t based on empty traditions (Mark 7:6-8), and that God doesn’t accept false worship (Isaiah 1:13,15). Psalm 100 teaches us four things about true worship.            

Recognize Who God Is and Respond Wholeheartedly

Psalm 100 starts with a call to joyful praise. Worship is meant to be joyous, exuberant, and liberating because we are worshipping God, not people. Like David who danced with all his might before the Lord (2 Samuel 6), or the healed man who leapt in praise (Acts 3:8), we too can respond with exuberant joy and wholehearted worship when we truly encounter God.   

Expressed in Service

Psalm 100:2 tells us to serve the Lord with gladness. The Hebrew word avodah beautifully ties together the words worship, work, and service. Everything that we do, whether at church, work, or at home, can be forms of worship when we do it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). At the end of the day, we will all make daily choices about whom we will serve - either serve self, sin, or God. May we be like Joshua, who chose to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).       

Anchored in God’s Word

True worship is rooted in knowing who God truly is as revealed through Scripture, not our own ideas or perceptions about Him. God is our holy, just, and loving Creator (Psalm 100:3), while Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14), calls us to know, hear, and follow Him. Remember that worship grows as we study God’s Word and obey it. As John Stott said, “All True worship is a response to the self-revelation of God in Christ and Scripture and arises from our reflection on who He is and what He has done."   

Live in Thanksgiving

Worship is both personal and public (Psalm 100:4-5). We are commanded to enter His courts and worship publicly – declaring His goodness to others (Psalm 100:4) and joining with others in praise (Acts 2:46-47). We are called to testify about God’s goodness, especially when life is challenging. A thankful life is built on the truth that God is good, faithful, and loving, and our worship ought to reflect that every single day, not just one a week.    

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LAST WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)