True worship is not the mechanical repetition of rituals, but should be wholehearted and reverent. It should be based upon trustful and obedient lives, in that obedience is itself to be seen as an act of worship.
Worship should be in accordance with God's commands
Genesis 22:2 See also Genesis 12:1, Genesis 12:7–8; Deuteronomy 30:16–20; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6–8; Jeremiah 7:2; Daniel 3:28; Acts 13:2; Romans 12:1
“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
Worship should not be mechanical
John 4:23–24 See also Hebrews 10:1
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Worship should give God the honour due to him
1 Chronicles 16:29 parallel Psalm 96:8–9
Worship of mere human devising is unacceptable
Isaiah 29:13 See also Leviticus 10:1; Matthew 15:7–9 parallel Mark 7:6–7; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:23
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Worship should be orderly and reverent
1 Corinthians 14:40 See also 1 Chronicles 16:37–42; 1 Kings 18:30–39; 1 Corinthians 14:26
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
Worship should be grounded in godly and obedient living
Micah 6:6–8; Romans 12:1 See also Psalm 15:1–5, Psalm 24:3–4; 1 Timothy 2:10
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
The proper attitude of worshippers
Preparation for worship
1 Corinthians 11:28 See also Leviticus 16:3–4; 2 Samuel 12:20; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Matthew 2:11
Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
Wholeheartedness
Deuteronomy 6:5 See also Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 27:4; Matthew 22:37 parallel Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Confidence in approaching God
Hebrews 10:22–23 See also Genesis 4:4; James 4:8; Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 11:4
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.