60 SECOND READ: Out of order worship

I sing because I worship Jesus.

I preach because I worship Jesus.

I write because I worship Jesus.

I photograph because I worship Jesus.

 

I serve my wife because I worship Jesus.

I play with my kids because I worship Jesus.

I listen to my friends because I worship Jesus.

I help my neighbors because I worship Jesus.

And the list goes on and on and on…

 

But the moment I reverse the order and I worship Jesus because I sing, preach, write, photograph, serve, play, listen, help, etc., my actions, thoughts and words become the means or grounds by which I attempt to secure approval or feel I have received approval from God. In this reversal, worship begins with what I do, when worship rightly must begin with what Jesus has done on the cross. 

My every action, thought and word is a continuous outflow and outpouring of worship to something or to someone. Worship, then, is nothing in general and everything in particular. But if Jesus is the One of worth, and if we are His worshippers, then our worship can be nothing less and nothing more than all we are and all we do – note the order – through Him, because of Him, and then and only then, for Him.