"We should dedicate ourselves to becoming in this life the most perfect worshipers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity."
-Brother Lawrence
Worship is a word that is used throughout the Bible, but what does it mean? Many years ago I asked myself that question and came to the despairing conclusion; I didn’t know what worship was. In an effort to resolve this dilemma I began a search using Strong’s Concordance. One of the words in the Bible used for worship is derived from two Greek words: kuneo, which means to kiss, like a dog affectionately licking its master’s hand; the other word is pros, which is defined as direction. It can also mean to aim or point. These words, when used together, define worship as an outward or outgoing expression of love, traveling from one place to another. Worship is simply an expression of our affection aimed in the direction of God.
When you do things that cause your love and feelings of admiration to flow in God’s direction; you are worshipping. Worship is often a very simple declaration; like singing a song, which expresses your affection. It can also be costly and complex, such as when Hannah surrendered her right to her first born son. She took him to the priest Eli and he served in the tabernacle of God. Jesus said, “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.” You cannot worship the Lord in Spirit without truth and you cannot worship the Lord in truth without Spirit. Byron Spadlin writes, “Worship is the intentional attitude and action of focusing on God. It is the life-discipline we ought repeatedly to exercise and develop. It grows out of the foundational motive of deep and wonder-based gratitude to God for salvaging and sustaining us.” When we make a sincere and deliberate effort to worship, the Holy Spirit will empower us with His abiding strength.
Consider what Graham Kendrick said, “Everybody worships. Whether it is a hero, possessions, success, pleasure, a political cause, a carved idol or oneself, the way we live and behave makes evident the things we love and give ourselves to. It is in our very nature to worship, and that inner drive is God-given; the disaster is that as part of a fallen race, we have replaced the object of our worship. To be converted to faith in Jesus Christ is to return to the worship of the true God, and to dethrone all rivals to his authority.” May we kiss the hand that created us, expressing our sincere gratitude to God for all He is.