"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
You have to love the way C.S. Lewis handled the English language. He puts his point so frightfully well! God's glory exceeds and abounds the stubborn will of man. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is Love. He is Light. He is Holy. Whether we worship him or not will never change the fact that He is God.
So. Why worship Him?
I'll let Scripture answer that question:
Psalm 99:5 - "Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy."
Matthew 4:10 - Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (This is a reference to Exodus 20:3, of 10 Commandments fame)
Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."
Hebrews 12:28 -
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."Revelation 17:11 - "All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God..."
I see several reasons why we should worship God. First, God has commanded it. Second, God is holy. Third, God is merciful to us in light of the fact that Christ died and rose again for us. Fourth, God deserves our thanks and praise because "we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" and we don't deserve. And fifth, if the angels are constantly worshiping God and we were made a little lower than the angels, we would be fools not to worship the living God.
I could give several more reasons, but it would turn this post into a tome! These are simply a few thoughts to help us prepare for corporate worship on the Lord's day, and to remind us to lift up our praise and worship to Him daily.
Have you worshiped God today, in spirit and in truth? Think about it - then worship Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. If we don't praise Him, the rocks are gonna cry out! (That's one heck of a rock band!)
-Maria
