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Life took on an entirely new dimension. I had discovered why I was
created: I was born to know, love, and worship the Lord God. I began to
witness to my friends and colleagues - not as an obligation of the
Christian life, but as an act of worship. I knew Him and simply wanted
others to know Him.
One day in a public speaking class at the university, we were required to give an informative speech. We were to describe a person whom we had met, a book that we had read, or an event which we had attended. I spoke about the Person whom I had just met. I spoke of His attributes and characteristics, but I didn't tell who I was speaking about until the end of the speech. I concluded by saying, "He is the Creator of the universe. His name is Jesus." I was given a failing grade on the speech because the professor said that it was more an inspirational speech than an informative one. I left that class rejoicing that my professor had been inspired by the majesty of the God I had come to know.
It was in those formative days of my Christian life that I began to understand the joy, meaning, and principles of worship. I began to understand that the call of God upon our lives is a call to worship. The work of salvation in the heart of man turns rebellious, stubborn, self-willed persons into humble, obedient, worshipping saints.
The call to worship is universal and eternal. It is the call to all people in every tribe, nation, and generation. It is the highest call which can be made to an individual. It is the call of God to each of us, and as true worshipers, we must heed His call.
If we are to obey God's call to worship, we must understand some foundational truths about worship. First, we must understand the basis of true worship. True worship does not originate with the need of man but with the worthiness of God. Quite often it is said today that it really doesn't matter what one believes; it is only important that one believes. Such a philosophy indicates that the object of worship is not significant but that what really matters is only the act of worship.
This system of thoughts has been the tragedy of human history. Leaders have walked across the pages of history demanding allegiance and reverence. They have said to their generations, "Follow me." Some have been good leaders and others have been tyrants. But no human leader is worthy of worship and absolute loyalty. There is only one who stands out in history as worthy of our worship. His name is Jesus.
An old German Lutheran pastor once told me that during World War II he refused to "Hail Hitler!" He said that only Jesus is worthy of that kind of loyalty and reverence. He went to jail because he understood that real worship is rooted in the worthiness of the one to be worshiped. Many of the pastor's contemporaries thought he was foolish to refuse to worship a political leader. However, time and history have proved him correct. It is extremely important to know the character and essence of the one whom we worship.
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