Recently, I searched my online Bible for all the verses containing the word “worship.” As you might imagine, there are hundreds.
Much to my surprise, a vast number of them are warnings against worshiping false and foreign gods. It appears that—although our hearts are made to worship—we’re bent on worshiping the wrong things. As I read these Scriptures, the Lord pointed out my own idolatry and self-centeredness. I was reminded that repentance is required before true worship happens.
We’ve gathered some of these verses into a devotional experience we’re calling “A Week of Worship.” Spoiler alert: there’s nothing about style, technique, song selection or tech support. Rather, these verses are about tuning our hearts to sing God’s praise.
You’ll find five short passages about worship for each of the next six days. [We figured that you’d be in church worshiping on the seventh!]
Here’s a suggestion: every day as you rise, eat each meal, and retire for bed, open your Bible and read aloud the whole text of a passage summarized below. Then ask the Lord to give you insight and to apply it to your heart.
I’ll be starting this devotional journey next Monday and will post some thoughts on our Facebook page along the way. Please consider joining us as we experience a “Week of Worship” together!
--Vince Wilcox, general manager
DAY ONE:
- Exodus 9:13-14 God directs Moses to tell Pharaoh to free the Hebrews so they can worship him in the desert.
- Exodus 33:10 God’s people worship at the entrance of their own tents when they see the pillar of fire standing at the entrance of the tabernacle tent.
- 2 Kings 17:35-39 God commands the Israelites to worship him alone and not to worship any other gods.
- 1 Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
- 2 Chronicles 7:2-3 Fire comes down and God’s glory covers the temple such that the priests cannot even enter it. The people prostrate themselves in worship.
DAY TWO:
- 2 Chronicles 29:27-28 Hezekiah orders a burnt offering sacrificed on the altar as the people worship along with the trumpets and instruments of King David.
- Nehemiah 8:5-6 Ezra opens the book and leads all the people in praising God, lifting their hands, saying “Amen!” and prostrating themselves in worship.
- Nehemiah 9:6-7 You are the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
- Job 1:20-21 Job got up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “...May the name of the Lord be praised.”
- Psalm 86:8-9 No god is like you, Lord. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
DAY THREE:
- Psalm 95:6-7 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. We are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
- Psalm 100:1-2 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
- Psalm 109:30-31 I will extol the Lord in the great throng of worshipers. He stands at the right hand of the needy and saves their lives from their accusers.
- Isaiah 29:13-14 The Lord says: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is based on human traditions.
- Daniel 3:17-18 The God we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace. But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold.
DAY FOUR:
- Daniel 7:13-14 There was one like a son of man who was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations of every language worshiped him.
- Zephaniah 3:9-10 Then I will purify the lips of the peoples...from beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
- Matthew 2:10 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother. They bowed down and worshiped him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- Luke 4:5-8 The devil said, “I will give you all their authority if you worship me.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
- John 4:23-24 True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
DAY FIVE:
- Matthew 28:8-9 The women hurried away from the tomb. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
- Luke 24:50-52 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
- Acts 17:23-24 You are ignorant of the very thing you worship—The God who made the world does not live in temples built by human hands.
- Romans 12:1 I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
DAY SIX:
- 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority.
- Hebrews 12: 28-29 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down before him and worship.
- Revelation 7:11-12 They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
- Revelation 11:16-17 And the twenty-four elders worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”