INTIMACY THROUGH WORSHIP (1)

“Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” – Colossians 3:16b

Complementing God’s Word, Believers in Christ can cultivate divine INTIMACY through WORSHIP: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col.3: 16-17). Our heavenly Father seeks our worship: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jh.4: 23-24).

God cherishes and enjoys our worship, being essential to a vibrant, thriving Christian life. In worship, much like thanksgiving, we are reminded of Who our God is, and who we are. Worshipping the Lord Jesus establishes us in our identity because it reminds us whose we are and all that He has done on our behalf. Jesus is worthy of all worship, and we can have fresh encounters with Him through this transformative avenue. We were first and foremost created to worship; to receive the love of our Creator and in response give Him our heart.

The Christian life is to be marked by heartfelt, genuine worship: worship filled with God’s Presence, nearness, and intimacy, that responds to a true encounter with the Heart of God. We can access fresh seasons and higher realms of worship: “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psa.29:2). We can have encounters with our God that are unveiled and filled with God’s presence (2Cor.3:18). We can worship in both spirit and truth, with our hearts and our minds fully engaged and responsive. Our lives can be marked by intimacy and encounter with the Living God of Love Who is nearer to us that we have ever imagined!

Worship ushers into God’s Presence: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!” (1Chr.16:11). And, as we begin to meditate on the privilege of worshipping God in spirit and truth, scripture fills us with a longing to encounter God through worship (Jh.4:23). Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

As the Lord reveals to us His heart for Intimacy in Worship, we must submit to His Spirit, and decisively take the time to worship, engaging our heart and mind with the lyrics of our favorite worship songs. Ultimately, we’re created to worship through our lives. Every word, thought, action, and emotion can be done as worship if we will seek to commune with God in everything (Rom.12:1).