Worship is the primary response of a creature to the Creator. But worship is also for our own good. God desires, even commands our worship. But we need worship to understand who God is, who we are, and where we stand in the order of things.

“‘Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord God and have no awe of me’, declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” (Jeremiah 2:19) Worship reawakens and reaffirms our awe of God. Without worship, we lose perspective of God’s greatness. Worship focuses our attention on His awesome power, His infinite love, His faithful provision – every facet of His character. Worship shows us the “awe-ful” God that enables us to face a fallen world. Without worship, His character dims in our thinking, overshadowed by the immediate problems of each day. Life indeed becomes dark and bitter. Worship turns us back to that brilliant Light, actively affirming our “awe” of Him. Then the bitterness of life evaporates, overwhelmed by the character of the Lord of Life.

Ultimately, however, the measure of worship must never be its effect on us, but its effect on God. The goal is to honor and please Him. The measure of worship must not be “Was I uplifted? Was I emotionally encouraged?” but rather, “Did I honor, exalt, affirm, and adore God? Did I magnify Him to please Him?” Worshipping God, acknowledging and affirming His awesome character, pleases Him and enables us to know Him better.

Copyright 2004 Michael Wiebe