A theme in this book is the concept of "worship." In most people's
minds, worship involves some sort of public service with hymns of praise,
prayers and a well-planned liturgy. Such services epitomize for many what
is involved in worshiping God. Yet this provides only a partial picture.
A dictionary definition of worship is "reverence tendered to a divine
being" and "an act expressing such reverence." The word "worship" comes
from an Old English word meaning "worth-ship" and refers to worthiness,
respect and reverence directed toward God.
Appreciation for God's worth
Our worship of God would therefore literally mean showing our appreciation
of God's worth. Certainly forms of outward religious practice, with their
rituals, ceremonies and prayers, can show worship for God. But we must
pay careful attention to what God tells us in his Word, the Bible.
God makes it clear He seeks those who will worship Him "in spirit
and in truth" (John 4:23,24). When Satan sought to tempt Christ to
worship him, Jesus Christ sharply rebuked him, saying, "You shall
worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve" (Matthew 4:10). The apostle Paul equated his worship of God with "believing
all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets" (Acts 24:14), referring to what we call the Old Testament.
