Come, Let Us Adore Him

Worship involves the adoration of [God’s] person. These elders, John writes, worship God with deep adoration.

And will worship Him who lives forever and ever. (Revelation 4:10)

The word worship (proskuneo) means “to kiss toward, to kiss the hand, to bow down.” It means to bow before a sovereign ruler in humble adoration. It means to ascribe “worth-ship” to something or someone. Thus, worship is recognizing and responding to who God is and affirming His supreme value.

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When we talk about worship, we are talking about something we give to God. It is an all-consuming, selfless desire to give God our lives, our praise, our possessions, our attitudes, our all.

Think of the magi who came to worship the Christ-Child. These oriental king makers picture for us the true essence of worship. They came into the presence of the holy Child, fell down before Him, and gave Him gifts. Costly, valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gifts befitting a king.

These Christ-worshippers demonstrated their adoration by giving Him gifts. No worshipper can come empty-handed into His presence. Worship is all about giving—not getting. It’s all about giving Him praise, giving Him glory, giving Him our gifts, giving Him our lives (Romans 12:1).

Only in giving do we receive. Only as we give glory to Christ do we receive back from Him the grace and blessing we need to live for Him.

Adoration and a worshipful heart always lead to deeper repentance and create a selfless desire to give to God. In other words, worship begets worship.

Excerpt taken from Heaven Help Us!, by Steven Lawson.