I once heard about a man who lined the walls of his house with posters picturing Elvis Presley. He dressed in Elvis costumes. He attended conventions of Elvis tribute artists. He made a pilgrimage to Graceland every year. I wonder if he was wishing for the second coming — of Elvis! Here was an individual who worshipped Elvis as one worships an idol.
The psalms tell us that we become like what we worship. This man tried to imitate Elvis in every way he could. He was consumed and obsessed with Elvis. This is what it means to worship.
What is true worship? It has been defined as an active response to God whereby we declare his worth. It is attributing worth, value, and honor to our creator and savior. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs the church about worship. He says we may worship God in at least three ways.
The word of Christ
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). When we reverently read and study the scriptures, it is an act of worship. When we listen attentively to the preaching of the word, it is an act of worship. When a faithful pastor prepares and proclaims the word it is, for him, an act of worship.
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “The believer’s mind ought to be so saturated with divine truth that it can determine the divine perspective on any question, issue, or decision.” We show our reverence for God by the way we welcome his word into our minds and hearts.
Singing God’s praise
“Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). Music is an incredibly powerful medium for expressing our love and devotion to God. It impresses upon our hearts the truths of what we are singing. Music is one of the ways the Lord has chosen for his people to know him and to honor him.
Our text implies that God accepts a variety of cultural expressions in music. I think he welcomes many different styles and preferences, from classical anthems to African rhythms, from Pentecostal hand clapping, to traditional hymns, old and new.
All of life
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). This recognizes the supreme authority of Jesus Christ in every part of our lives. We can and should do all that we do for his glory. This attitude sanctifies every word we speak, and every activity of our lives as acts of worship.
The story is told of a humble janitor who worked in a large church. He wasn’t a preacher. He didn’t sing. He never stood on the stage. But he came in every morning to clean restrooms, wash windows, sweep floors, set up classrooms and make sure everything was ready for Sunday services.
One day the young pastor stopped to thank him. The janitor smiled and said, “I’m not just cleaning floors, I’m preparing the house of the Lord. Every sweep of my broom is for him!”
The pastor was struck by the man’s attitude. What others saw as a chore, he saw as worship. Later, when the church honored him for his years of service, he said something that stayed with everyone: “Worship doesn’t begin with music or a sermon. Worship is how you drive, how you work, how you love your family, and how you treat people who can’t give you anything in return. I clean like Jesus is walking in next.”
Worship is not only what we do in church, but it is how we live outside of it. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Pastor Randy Faulkner