"You're Worth It"
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Since the '70s, L'Oréal commercials have convinced scores of customers to pay more for shampoo and conditioner because, as their spokespeople put it, "You're worth it." Haven't we all thought that before? Maybe not about boutique hair care products, but I've convinced myself to spend more money than usual on something because "I'm worth it." But what if we flipped that thought process and asked what we'd spend on our God, who actually is worth it?
We're Cross Training to develop our reverence, one of twelve marks of the Master we're working on this year. Reverence comes when we know God, fear him, worship him, and live in holiness. So how do we show honor and respect to a God who's incredibly worthy of worship?
What You Need to Know
When we worship, we respond to God's grace and greatness by acts that express our reverence and submission to him. Worship expresses worth — think of it as expressing worth-ship. "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Rev. 4:11).
One New Testament word often translated "worship" (proskuneo) relates to bowing down (literally or figuratively). It's a profound act of respect, submission, and reverence. People often bowed before Jesus during his earthly life, worshiping him (Matt. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9). That would be unthinkable and totally inappropriate for any being but God (Rev. 19:9-10; Acts 10:25-26). Beware of letting anything else sneak into your heart as an object of such honor and devotion. We become like what we worship (Ps. 115:8), and we were created to worship only God (Matt. 4:11).
Another word translated as "worship" (latreuo) was often used for priestly service. We present our bodies as a living sacrifice as an act of "spiritual worship" (Rom. 12:1). As his priests, we bring "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Peter 2:5) and "offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe" (Heb. 12:28). Our financial gifts supporting the Lord's work come before him as "a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God" (Phil. 4:18; 1 Cor. 16:1-4). Our prayers ascend to God's presence like the holy incense the priests used to offer in front of the most holy place (Rev. 8:3-4).
Like the early disciples (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25) — and the congregation of Israel before them (Ps. 22:22; 107:32) — we fill our lives with God's praise, worshiping him in private (Matt. 6:5-6) and gathering with others to worship and edify one another (1 Cor. 14:15-26). It's not important where we worship, but it does matter how we worship, as God seeks "true worshipers" who "worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:20-24). In sincerity and devotion, we lower ourselves in obedient surrender, lifting him up in his way (Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:23).
What You Need to Do
As you see God's splendor all around you and consider his great acts of creation and deliverance, respond by creating what you can to magnify him. We can speak and write words that proclaim his excellence (1 Peter 2:9-10). We can sing beautiful songs about him to "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God ... the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name" (Heb. 13:15). When you "do good and ... share what you have," God considers it an offering to him, and "such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Heb. 13:16).
The Psalms have a lot to teach us about adoring God, placing our full hope in him, and entrusting our lives under his kingship. Make the Psalms a regular part of your life, reading, praying, even singing them.
Gather with the saints on the first day of the week to remember Jesus by breaking bread (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-28). In this supper of remembrance and communion (1 Cor. 10:16-17), we draw near to him in reverent gratitude, proclaiming what the Lord did for us in his death (1 Cor. 11:26). It's a moment with our Lord not to be missed.
Through the Week
- Read (Mon) — John 4:20-24; Col. 3:14-17; Rom. 12:1-2; Ps. 95:1-6; Mal. 1:6-14
- Reflect (Tue) — What distracts me from my true focus in worship?
- Request (Wed) — "Heavenly Father, may your name be held in reverence" (cf. Matt. 6:9).
- Respond (Thu) — Bow down in your room and pray a psalm of worship.
- Reach Out (Fri) — What idols have you dethroned from your heart to keep God at the center?
