Worship is more than music; it’s transformation. You may not be aware of this when you go to church, but when you praise the Lord, you change who you are. You realize and fulfill God’s purpose for creating you.
According to theologian N. T. Wright, “You become like what you worship.” Songwriter and worship leader Louie Giglio agrees: “Whatever you worship, you imitate. Whatever you imitate, you become.” And Pastor Jack Hayford reminds us that “Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped.”
This is wonderful news–but only if we worship God! Unfortunately, this principle also works in the other direction. If we neglect God and fail to honor Him or if we worship substitutes, we degrade ourselves.
This happened to the ancient Israelites:
“They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” – 2 Kings 17:15
The Israelites became as worthless as the idols they extolled. Although made of gold or other precious materials, these statues had no true value; they could neither hear nor answer prayer. Bowing down before them wasted the time, attention, and devotion of God’s people. They lost their value in the Lord’s sight.
Over time, we mirror what we worship and our character grows to reflect the object of our affection. How wasteful, then, to spend ourselves on what cannot reciprocate.
“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 9All you Israelites, trust in the LORD– he is their help and shield.” – Psalm 115:3-9
The psalmist contrasts the capabilities of the living God with the helplessness of inert idols. The implication is that the more we worship our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving Father, the more we will resemble Him. We will manifest His good attributes as we seek to bless others.
Worshipping God affects us at our deepest level. It makes us spiritual because God is spiritual.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ 26Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you–I am he.’” – John 4:23-26
Jesus offers us the opportunity to access, converse with, and enjoy the Lord God Almighty. Praise Him for this wonderful gift!
So give God your heart in worship. Hold nothing back from Him. As you let the Spirit work in you, He will develop the character of Christ in your life. You will grow spiritually. And you will walk in the paths He has set for you.
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