Worship: A Response to Gods Love

We find ourselves in a day and time when everything we think we know or thought we
knew is being challenged in the home, in school and more especially the church. I have
been led by the Holy Spirit to share the revelation I received with the hope that it will
help to clarify the role of worship not only in the church but in our daily lives.
I recently read an article in a Christian worship magazine where mention was made of
the fact that someone coined the phrase God is my girlfriend songs to describe
contemporary lyrics that express love to God with words that are romantic in nature.
They include phrases like embrace me, let me feel your touch, etc. It has been said
that this sentiment was true of how John Wesley felt about some of the songs his
brother penned [Charles Wesley]. Overall however, I believe that individuals, who are
truly worshiping the Lord in a genuine way, are simply trying as best they can to express
how they appreciate and love God.
The psalmist David has shared through his psalms many expressions of his love for
God because of the relationship that he had with Him and I think particularly of Psalms
18 and 34. We too must do the same if we are to be authentic Christians and lovers of
the word of God.
True worship then, in my opinion can be based on Isaiah 54:5 which states: For your
Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is
your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. In this verse we can see a
real desire to celebrate who God is and what He has done through Christ.
I recently found a book entitled Exploring Worship by Bob Sorge and I highly
recommend it to all who truly wish to know what worship is and have a greater
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understanding of Praise and Worship on the whole. The author [Bob Sorge] describes
worship several ways and I have chosen seven [7] of them to share with you:
1. Worship is a conversation between God and Man a dialogue that should go on
constantly in the life of a Christian;
2. Worship is giving to God and involves a lifetime of giving to Him the sacrifice he
asks for: our total selves.
3. Worship is our affirmative response to the self-revelation of the triune God. For
the Christian each act of life is an act of worship when it is done with LOVE that
responds to the Fathers love. Living should be constant worshipping, since
worship may be said to provide the metabolism for spiritual life.
4. Worship was the outcome of the fellowship of love between the Creator and man
and is the highest point man can reach in response to the love of God. It is the
first and principle purpose of mans eternal calling.
5. Worship means to feel in the heart. Worship also means to express in some
appropriate manner what we feel.
6. True worship and praise are awesome wonder and overpowering love in the
presence of our God;
7. And finally, worship is extravagant love and extreme obedience.
I wholeheartedly believe each of the descriptions of the author, and practise the majority
if not all of what he has prescribed.
In conclusion, I want to remind you of the words of the hymn The King of Love my
Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never, I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine
forever. Following are the verses to the hymn written by John Wesley.

The King of love my shepherd is,

whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
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with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

A hymn for all seasons.

R Cecilia Askew
Copyright@ 2015
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