Mankind was made to share fellowship with God. We were made in the image of God, and while the Father and Son revel in love towards one another with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are made to revel in love with our Creator in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Throughout Scripture, mankind demonstrates worship to God by bowing down, giving thanks, by the building of altars, by bringing sacrifices and with singing and praise. And in God’s goodness, he gives a promise to us that when we worship him, we’ll be blessed: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you….” (Exodus 23:25). When I lead worship, I’ll often remind people that God doesn’t need our praise, but he commands it because it is good for us! Getting our minds and focus off of ourselves and putting our focus on the Lord and his goodness creates a shift in our spirit. It builds us up as we declare our praise. As we humble ourselves and bow down, he lifts us up. We worship God in obedience and he responds with blessing and healing.
If you search Scripture to find where God commands his people to worship, it is often accompanied first by a command not to worship other gods. “Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies” (2 Kings 17:38-40). When Jesus was tempted in the desert, Satan showed him the kingdoms of the world and said: “‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only [Deut 6:13].”’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him” (Matthew 4:9-11). We worship God in obedience, and he responds with deliverance and care.
As humans, we’re going to worship something. It’s what we’re designed for. If we don’t worship God, we’ll be worshipping something or someone else. Giving our worship to anything else creates a void—it’s a robbery. Let’s give thanks to the Lord that we serve the One who responds to our worship by blessing and filling!