What Is Worship To God? What Is True Worship? How to Be Close To God!

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Worship, being worshippers, and worshipping God is what the Christian life is all about. Let's face facts: when you truly discover who God really is there is no other response. It is the way to be close to God.

But what is true worship. What is worship to God. I want to create a picture of what this means by talking about my dog.

MY DOG NAMED JOHN HENRY

I used to have a dog named John Henry. We called him Johnny. He was a beautiful mix of Irish Setter and Golden Retriever. He was a great dog. Johnny was so devoted to me it was a family joke. He was "Old Faithful," where I was concerned. He slept by my side of the bed, and I couldn't get him to move away where I wouldn't step on him if I got up. If I stirred during the night, he was right there, his face in mine, to see if I was awake.

I couldn't do anything without John Henry. If I worked at the computer, he was right by my side. I had to make him lie down to get any work done. If I didn't I'd rolled over him with the wheels on the chair. He was obnoxious in wanting my attention. He would lick my hands, and just lay his face in my lap. God gave me Johnny to teach me about my relationship with him.

LOOKING AT WORSHIP IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE

The Greek language is what the New Testament of the Bible was written in. Here, the word for worship is the Greek word "PROSKUNEO." I know, I can't pronounce it either. It means 'to kiss, to prostrate oneself in homage, to adore.' It's a compound word consisting of two Greek words: "PROS," and "KUNEO."

"PROS" means 'to give attention to, to stand in front of longingly.' As a verb, it means 'to move upon, to strain toward, to force yourself upon, to demand attention.' Doesn't this sound like John Henry?

ONE DEFINITION: "LICKING THE MASTER'S HAND"

"KUNEO" is the other Greek word that makes up the English word WORSHIP is simply the word for DOG. Yes, that's right: it means 'dog.' What do dogs do? They 'lick the master's hand,' which is one definition of worship. They sit in loving devotion, just being close -- their head on your lap, just like John Henry did with me. LOOKING AT THIS BIBLICALLY

The Bible talks about us being sons, (which is a non-sexist term), but also about being children. What do children want, but to be close to their parents - at least until they start demanding a life and identity of their own. Little boys usually want to do what daddy is doing, and little girls want to do what mommy is doing.

Have you ever thought about crawling up on Father's lap, like his little kid, and cuddling with him -- loving on him? I often think in ways like this. Not so much being on God's lap, but sitting with my head on his leg and his hand on my head.

Some think this is immature, but I have this image frequently. It is the GOSPEL that empowers us to have 'a John Henry type love for God' -- that makes truly want to connect with God. Paul speaks of 'fellowship in the gospel' (Phil 1:5). The gospel is God's language this side of the cross.

I wrote some lyrics to a song quite a few years ago to my wife Eileen: "Girl, you were right by my side, helping me find what is already mine."

Spiritually, this can also be applied to God.

This is what living life in the gospel does for us: it helps us see what is already ours (I Cor 2:12, 3:21-22, Luke 12:32, 15:31, etc.) And this includes a loving relationship with the Creator of the universe… whom we are told to know as 'Abba Father.' In the familiar tense this means 'Daddy' or 'Papa.'

ARE WE SONS AND DAUGHTERS - OR CHILDREN?

The gospel is about a Father who loves us more than we can ever possibly begin to imagine. As his children, we come to know him as 'Abba Father,' and we fall in love with him more than we ever thought possible. The longing of our Father's heart is for us to know him just like a loving, dependent child relates to his Daddy -- but also as mature sons and daughters know and respect their Father.

Both Jesus and Paul used the term 'Abba Father.' This denotes agape love and intimacy, but also awesome respect and reverence. The word Abba denotes an unreasoned expression of trust, love, dependency, and confidence from a child. The word Father denotes a reasoned appreciation, honor and esteem from a son or daughter. We will always be both children, -- and sons and daughters.

The familiar Jewish expression for God was 'Papa.' Our Father's heart cry to us is, 'Come to Papa.' This is where everything good begins -- and extends beyond our wildest dreams. Paul says it goes far beyond 'all we can think or imagine' (Eph 3:20).

THIS DESCRIBES JOHN HENRY

This describes my dog, John Henry. He came to 'Papa.' He loved 'Papa.' He just wanted to be with 'Papa.' This is the heart in us that our Abba Father wants to see - a heart of just wanting to be with him, and wanting to include him in the activities of our life.

This is true worship. Worship is not something we do. Worship is an attitude about God that includes him in whatever we are doing.

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