When we kneel to man-made objects or worldly practices, we are not elevated. By worshiping something less than ourselves we ourselves are lessened by the experience.
So the Scripture says that those who worship idols become like the very idols they worship (Psalm 115:8; 135:18). In contrast, those who worship the Lord become like him, conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29).
When we give ourselves to the pursuit of wealth or pleasure, when we are mesmerised by sexual allure or the desire for revenge or power, our values fall into line–these things become the most important issues in our lives, and we are degraded as a result. In other words, they become objects of worship.
When we give ourselves to the pursuit of God’s glory and love, then he becomes the object of our worship, and we are ennobled.
True worship, said Jesus, is in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). It is both sincere and honest, both emotional and rational, both affective and cognitive, through both Spirit and Word. No other form of worship will do.
This is why worshiping God captivates our whole lives. It involves every part of us.
To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.
Reading from the Solomon Islands.
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