"Proper" Worship

    If you grew up in the church of Christ you most likely were taught in Bible class about the "five acts of worship"  (We do love our fives, 😊) :  Singing, praying, giving, communion, preaching.  So, yesterday was Sunday.  How did I do?  I joined in the singing of the congregation 🗹 , I joined in prayer 🗹, I put my money in the plate 🗹, I took communion 🗹, I heard a sermon 🗹.  All five checked.  I must have worshipped "properly."  

    Don't mistake me, all of these items are important parts of worship.  Can we say that we have worshipped just because we physically did all of these things?  Who seems to be the focus of the above checklist?  Is it really all about me??

    Consider the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman:  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 (ESV)

    Jesus says that true worship is in spirit and in truth.  Worship is so much more than just going through the correct motions.  Let's go back to our list.  When I joined in the singing yesterday, did I think about what I was saying and to whom I was speaking?  Did I sing with my heart as well as my voice?  Did I worry more about how I sounded than about honoring God?  

    When someone led in prayer, did my mind wander off to Sunday dinner?  Did I consider to whom we were speaking?  Did I sound the amen in my heart?  

    What about giving?  Was it intentional?  Did I just look to see if I had any spare change in my wallet?  Did I consider the joy of coming before God with something to give?  Was I thankful that I was not empty-handed?  Had I happily planned all week long how much I was going to give during the worship?  Did I consider how much I have been given?

    When it came time to take communion, did I stop to think about the One who willingly took all my sins and was killed for my sake?  Did I remember?  Did I recall that Jesus asked us to remember what he did for us until he comes again?  Did I stop to think of Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."?  Did I grieve over my sins which killed the Son of God?  Did I rejoice in humility that he saved me?

    Then the sermon.  We usually have more trouble considering how listening to a sermon fits into worship.  I was blessed to hear a sermon which was fully based on scripture.  Did I carefully listen to each scripture as it was read?  Did I take notes so that I could remember what was said and review it later?  Did I take pains to keep my focus?  Did I remember that even though a man prepared and spoke the sermon, he was bringing the very words of God?  Did I find my heart rejoicing in the word of life?  Even the sermon should draw us to praise.

    "Proper" worship is not always easy.  Satan tries to distract us and keep us from truly worshipping.  He knows that we gain so much strength to carry on from worship.  Don't give up.  Remember to worship Him every day!  There is always a blessing in "proper" worship.