What Is True Worship That Pleases God?

My introduction to worship as a child began when a neighbor took me to church. There, I attended Sunday school. I was happy because I had many friends and heard interesting stories about Bible figures. Another attraction was the snacks and gifts I received every time I finished my Sunday school assignments. Not to mention that at Christmas or Easter, I was showered with Easter eggs and all kinds of prize packages from competitions.

For a simple child, worship was enjoyable because of the many friends, gifts, food, and interesting stories.

Then, how do we view worship?

Have we fallen into a mistaken understanding of worship? What kinds of mistakes do we tend to make in worship? And what should true worship that is pleasing to God look like?

 

Mistaken Worship

Only Human Commands

 “They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” – Matthew 15:9

Perhaps some of us see worship as a family tradition passed down from generation to generation. A routine since childhood. For us, it is merely a matter of coming, sitting, listening, and going home. We do not come with hearts that long to praise the Lord, hear His teaching, or build fellowship with our spiritual brothers and sisters.

As a result, after worship, some people immediately return to their old ways: getting drunk, venting their temper and cursing, or visiting places of immorality. In the end, it becomes a routine, not a longing to draw near to the Lord.

Not Wholehearted

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but worship the LORD with all your heart.” – 1 Samuel 12:20

Some time ago, when work took up my time on Sundays several times a month, I was often late for worship. At that time, I thought this lateness was not because I was too lazy to get up or had overslept. I was working. And I was still giving my heart and prioritizing the Lord above work. It was already good that I still went to worship even though I was late, wasn’t it?

But did you know that when I was late for worship, I had actually made the Lord no longer precious and important in my life? Realizing that, I felt sad, because without realizing it I had put work above the Lord.

Are you often late for worship? Whatever the reason, it shows that you have not come to the Lord with all your heart. If the Lord is still precious and important in your life, you will certainly make every effort to come to worship on time.

Seeking Profit

“… constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. – 1 Timothy 6:5

Without realizing it, when we come to the Lord in worship, we want to be blessed. We want our business to go smoothly, a spouse to be brought into our lives, our finances to be restored, every sickness and disease to be taken away, and relationships in the family to be healed.

So, is it wrong if we have that hope?

Of course, it is perfectly fine to hope. However, if that alone is what motivates us to worship, then we have already treated worship as a means of gain. No longer because we want to be close to the Lord and examine our lives over the past week through reflection on His word. Nor is it because we want to praise and worship the Lord.

So then, what kind of worship does the Lord desire?

True Worship

A Holy Life

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercy of God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: this is your true worship.” – Romans 12:1

Worship is not only about going to church every Sunday, taking part in ministry, or being active in various religious organizations.

True worship is when you keep your body and life holy so that they are pleasing to God.

A body and life that are holy mean that you do not defile yourself with sin. You do not damage the temple of God in your body with unhealthy food, alcohol, or illegal drugs. You make sure your life is used as an instrument of righteousness for the Lord. Your life reflects the glory, greatness, and beauty of God Himself.

A Renewed Mindset

“Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what the will of God is: what is good and pleasing to God and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

True worship requires a change in mindset. What kind of change in mindset does the Lord mean?

• No longer judging everything only by material things, but being willing to spend energy, time, and thought to help others know the Lord freely.

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:8

• Worldly thinking (envy, anger, revenge, hatred) is replaced with spiritual thinking (gratitude, patience, forgiveness, love).

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.” – Romans 6:12

• Life principles that do not align with the word of the Lord ((lying for a good cause, as long as you’re happy, “don’t bother me, after all, I don’t bother you”) no longer apply. Instead, we hold firmly to honesty, sincerity, caring about the lives of others, and doing what pleases the Lord’s heart.

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“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord: do not live any longer as those who do not know God live, in the futility of their thinking.” – Ephesians 4:17

Do you already have true worship that is pleasing to God? Has your worship so far made you a person who reflects the image of the Lord—His love, forgiveness, His love for the House of God, and His concern for the poor and those in need of help?

If not, let us learn together to live holy lives and renew our mindset, so that our worship may be pleasing to the Lord! Amen.

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Related Articles:

• How Can We Fall in Love with Jesus?
• Can We Understand the Lord’s Feelings?
• Are Your Life Priorities in the Right Order?
• Becoming a Person Who Pleases the Lord’s Heart
• How Can We Find Peace in a Fast-Paced World?

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