Worship. An Action

Mike Pilavachi has some profound words in a book that he wrote on worship. He says that worship, the act of corporate worship is an action that reflects what we do the rest of the week. It is simply the radiance of how we are in relationship with God for the rest of the week.

Scripturally, we see that worship is often accompanied by a physical action that takes place. Dancing, singing, jumping, raising hands, shouting, yelling. All kinds of actions that can and maybe should be taken. Throughout the Psalms we find this action being taken by various writers. Even if it is awkward to do these things, Pilavachi suggests that we step out of where we are at in our worship mindset and be engaged physically in corporate worship. This goes against culture, church culture, but it doesn't go against the culture of the majority. At rock concerts, there is an expression of "worship" towards a band or a song or an idea by the entire crowd raising hands or jumping or shouting. This is a meaningless act because the object of worship is the opposite of what I am talking about, but we as humans naturally express ourselves in a physical manner. Our heart condition is put on the outside of ourselves for people to see and for a creator to enjoy. Proskuneo or "worship" in the old Testament is defined as a "dog licking its' master's hand." Kind of gross, but when you think about why a dog does what it does, it is loving, it is caring, it is submissive, it is expressive. Are we licking our master's hand everytime we come before him in worship, or are we simply trying to wade through the masks that are thick on our faces because we fail to worship God the rest of the week? Am I one of these masked people?

God, let me be a worshipper. Let me lick your hands in submission, in love, in humility. Thank you for that privilege. Grant me the wisdom, patience, and power to worship you in my life when I am not worshipping corporately so that when I come before your throne with my brothers and sisters, I am not bringing dishonorable gifts to you!