Worship is more than a song on Sunday—it’s a life lived in submission to God. It’s the daily posture of humbling ourselves before our good and gracious King. Worship is the moment-by-moment dependence on Jesus.
And while there is a purpose and call to corporate worship through fellowship and song, and while it’s very important in the life of a Christ follower, the call goes deeper than only that.
In John 4, we see Jesus sit with the woman at the well in love and grace as He tells her, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NLT)
This statement is one that is twofold. We must recognize who God is by knowing Him, and because we know Him, we then respond in worship with our whole selves. That’s true worship. It’s more than feelings or even tradition.
We have to stop and ask ourselves if we are worshipping God for who He really is, or if we’re worshipping the false god of our own creation.
Worship is the moment-by-moment dependence on Jesus.
The Call of The Father
In John 6:29 (NLT), Jesus reminds us of what our call is, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
Belief in God is seen by the fruit of that belief: obedience (see John 3:36). Worship is about knowing God and responding in obedience.
The book of John tells us a lot about who Jesus is all throughout its pages. We see Him meeting people where they are at. We discover that He is
- I AM
- The Bread of Life
- The Light of the World
- The Gate
- The Good Shepherd
- The Resurrection and the Life
- The Way, the Truth, and the Life
- The Vine
We see Him glorified as the Son of God as He carries our sin and shame, and as He defeats hell and the grave when He raises from the dead.
A life that submits to God is one that sees clearly. We see God for who He is, ourselves for who we are, and because of that, the only response is a life of worship.
Filled with His Spirit
Galatians 5 reminds us of freedom in Christ and what is produced when we are filled with ourselves and what is produced when we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:19-23 NLT)
A life submitted to God in worship and obedience leads to His power and work within us, transforming what was once full of selfishness and sinfulness to instead be full of Him. It’s truly a wonder to behold.
Belief in God is seen by the fruit of that belief: obedience.
A Call to Moment-by-Moment Dependence
As we discover the characteristics of Jesus, we see that His call is one of daily dependence. His bread fills us, His light frees us, His shepherding sustains us, His resurrection life secures us, His way directs us, and His vine keeps us. His desire is to know us intimately as He walks with us.
Psalm 23 is always a beautiful depiction of who God is to us. Many of us imagining the green pastures as a full green valley or meadow filled with lush plants and grass. A place where we can run and jump and have no need of a Savior. When in reality, the place of green pastures is filled with rocks, hiding small patches of grass within them.
Psalm 23 reminds us that when the green pastures are unlike what we have always imagined and instead are small patches of green under a vast terrain of rocks, He leads us step by step by step, as we depend on Him for fulfillment, direction, sustenance, protection, renewal, and more.
You see, we need Him more in the rocky green pastures than the green meadow. I’ll say it again, a life of worship is a call to dependence.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Depend on Him.
And as you live a life worshipping in wonder, be reminded of the call: Believe in the One God has sent.
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
