Acceptable Worship November 26, 2014

²⁸ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe  Hebrews 12:28 ESV

We are to offer God "acceptable worship".  Perhaps it is the teacher in me, but my mind tends to need clarification, identification, definition.

What is "acceptable worship".  What does it look like?  Sound like?  Feel like?  

Acceptable worship is:

1.  Singular in focus.  
God and Him alone should be the object of our worship.  Not the pastor. Not the worship leader.  Not the soloists.  While people, processes, and pomp may lead stimulate our intellect or frenzy our emotions, God MUST remain our sole focus.  Satan loves to place people above Christ.  He cackles with glee when he is able to use the holy to distract from the Holy.

2. Genuine.
God it not impressed with the size of our vocabulary.  He is not won over by the amount of time we spend in prayer.  7/24 means nothing to Him if it is not genuine, honest, and raw.  Do we trust God with our joy, fear, anger, doubts?  Do we sing to God, yell at God, cry with God?  He identifies with our insecurities, infirmities, frailties, and fears.  He longs to hear our laughter.  Don't try to fool God. 

3.  Spontaneous.
We might need to set aside a time and place, but once we arrive at the appointed location, allow God to lead and guide our worship.  Be still and wait for Him to guide and direct our worship. 

4.  Exclusive.
Emails can wait.  Texts don't need an immediate response.  Many town in the American west in the 1800's prohibited people from carrying guns in town without special permission from the sheriff.  Guns had to be left at the Sherrif's office. Too bad churches don't require cell phones and tablets be checked in at the door.  God should not have to compete with emails, texts, Tweets, and Facebook.

5.  Location independent.
Not the best word choice, but worship does not require a special location.  No alters required.  Not prayer benches necessary.  No equipment needed.  "Acceptable worship" can happen on a walk, in a pew, or during a bike ride.

He desires our company.  Open, honest, real.   Singular, focused, exclusive.  Acceptable worship is about the object our worship, not the position of our body, the expanse of our vocabulary, or the height of our raised hands.  He deserves nothing less.