Can you see the wind?
You may have heard it asked before, “Can you see the wind?” The truth is “no” we are unable to see the wind, BUT we are able to see the effects of the wind. A light wind will blow trees, grass and flags. A good wind will blow a windmill generating power, or help to sail a boat across the sea. A great wind will destroy buildings, trees and whole communities.
Can we see worship? What does worship look like? We can be so quick to say worship is this or that and even back it up with scripture and that’s great, but true worship always comes from the heart. Worship is seen and heard by God, not mere mortals. God can see the heart and out of its abundance does worship flow.
Worship can be as subtle as a tear trickling down the face of a broken person (Psa 126:5) to the boisterous shout of a person who has been forgiven (Psa 20:5). Worship can be seen as dancing undignified (2Sa 6:14) or blowing the shofar (Psa 150:3). These are only a few “effects” of worship, but all have one thing in common, they originated from the heart. Though these actions are seen as “worship” they are really “the effects of worship.” We cannot see worship because it originates in the heart.
There are other “effects” of worship that the Bible records which DO NOT originate from the heart.
Isa 29:13 The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service–yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote–
Mat 15:8 These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
Lip service is the worship we must, at all costs, AVOID! Just because we are doing the outward “effects” of worship, we cannot think we are engaging our hearts. We must engage our hearts ALWAYS. The only time we miss it is when it doesn’t originate from our heart. This means that dancing because everyone else is, or singing the words off the screen just to hear our voice, or throwing our hands in the air because someone told us, may be just demonstrating the “effects” of worship without actually worshipping. That sounds harsh and some will think, “So then, I just stand there?” NO. Get your heart right, whatever it takes! If you truly knew who you were worshipping, it would come from the heart.
I could care less if I “look” like I’m worshipping in the eyes of man. I am more concerned with enjoying Christ. I understand that unity is also like this; a heart connected. Truly worship is this; enjoying Christ and the finished work of the cross.
This is so true, and right!!