Of Kissing & Worshiping
We seem to speak of worship like it is its own thing, its own entity, like kissing. For example, I might say that kissing is something I do, something I like to do. It makes me feel good, romantic. It gives me goosebumps and makes me feel all tingly. And there are all kinds of ways to kiss, many styles and situations where kissing is really enjoyable. I’m all for kissing.
But clearly, something is missing here; it actually makes a difference whom you kiss. I could kiss my aunt or sister or a total stranger on the cheek (a la the European greeting), and it does not feel the same as kissing my wife. I really must talk about and focus on whom I kiss for someone to understand what makes kissing so filled with wonder.
Like kissing, worship is something I do, something I like to do. It makes me feel good, reverent. It gives me goosebumps and makes me feel all tingly. And there are all kinds of ways to worship, many styles and situations where worship is really enjoyable. I’m all for worship.
But do I love worship or God? Do I love the feeling of worship or the One whom I worship? Do I crave the various styles and situations of worship, or do I crave the Living Christ? I really must talk about and focus on whom I worship for someone to understand what makes it so filled with wonder.
Worship is NOT its own thing, its own entity! The thing that makes worship continually meaningful and alive is WHOM I worship. I must focus on Yahweh, his actions throughout history, his attributes, his mysterious ways. Worship is merely the appropriate response of the creature to the Creator.
I don’t love kissing; I love the one I kiss. And I don’t love worshiping; I love the ONE I worship! How we say it makes a difference.