Knowing God rightly: "Importance of Worship"
Romans 1:21 “Yes, they knew God but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused”
Paul is drawing a distinction between knowing God and worshipping God. Its as if to claim that the jews know God but not to worship Him as God is not really to know Him. Paul implies that the worship of God is intimately tied to knowing God. In fact, Paul claims that to not know God through worship only invites the jews to think up foolish ideas of who God is which leads to darkness and confusion. Knowing who God is, is tied to the worship of God and the giving of thanks to Him. Paul is saying that it is in worship that we learn about the essence of God and learn as much about what God isn’t as what God is. Worship becomes a place that protects us from making God into something He isn’t.
This is really an interesting thought for me this morning. There are so many ideas of God in my culture and so many folks that claim to know God and most of these claims are made outside the conversation of knowing God through worship. But yet this verse claims that worship is the place we really know God and to not worship God or give Him thanks only makes room for a perverted idea of what God is like which leads to darkness and confusion. I’m also thinking about how many think of God as a commodity; a self help tool that they can use to get their life where they want it. This idea is ultimately the worship of self; whereas, true worship is allowing God to consume us and shape us into what He desires which is the exact opposite of self help. God is not the tool; we are the tool and in worship we learn this truth which leads to light and peace of mind.
Lord, help me to know you today in a way that leads to worship. Thanks for reminding me that claiming to know you without worshipping and thanking you is really not to know you at all. Thank you for reminding me that to not worship you will only lead to a perverted image of who you really are. Protect me from the temptation to make you into “Chad’s self help” god but empower me through grace to give all I am to you to mold and use as you see fit. I thank you for this invitation to worship and may you continue to reveal yourself to me through worship that you may continue to consume all of my life for your sake. Amen!
It is in worship that I know God rightly and am formed by Him.
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