Think with me for a moment. What is required of you to worship the Lord?

Is it good singing? Proper clothing? it is connected to much more than just a stylistic musical expression. Worshipping the Lord is much more than singing or even attending church. It’s deeper. It requires your life!

Over this last semester I have read “How to Worship a King” by Zach Neese. It’s a very passionate plea to worship leaders and congregations to understand where worship has come from and what is required of you. Chapter 9 is all about the Alter of the Old Testament.

The alter in the Old Testament was where God dwelled. People came to the alter for atonement and worship. In 2023 we do not come to a physical alter to offer sacrifices but we come to worship and submit ourselves to Jesus Christ!

Submission to the Lordship of Jesus is essential for proper worship. That’s why we say the phrase “Jesus is LORD” during our baptisms.  We are telling the church we willful submit to Jesus being the “boss” of our life.

While I was reading,”How to Worship a King”, these quotes inspired me.

“Worship Begins with the death of Christ on the Cross—aside from this, there is no access or ministry to God.”

“God won’t be enthroned on human pride, so in order to come closer to God…we have to kill our pride, burn it up, and leave it at the door.”

“Worship that does not entail submission is not worship.”

Here is what the scripture has to say about what is required of you.

Roman’s 12:1-2 the message translation

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.

Readily recognize that he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

So today as we worship…Submit yourselves to Jesus. It’s what is required of you!