Worship is defined in Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 as to “Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.” Many honest and sincere Christians think that if you love God and give glory to God, that this is enough. Some quote the Apostle Paul: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) and believe that when you are baptized you will now fully enjoy the benefits arising from being His child.
However, our Lord explained to be a true disciple is to follow in His footsteps. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) Thus, the act of worship involves adoring God above all else and submitting to His will in every aspect of our lives. Worship involves active choices not merely passive subjection. As the Apostle Peter exhorts, “be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).
Consider Jesus’ example. He so adored and honored His Father’s will that all of His words and actions glorified God. “…The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works,” John 14:10. Therefore our hearts’ devotion and worship will be reflected in all we do and say.
How did the world respond to Jesus’ ministry? Our Lord incurred the hatred of the world. “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” John.15:20. The Apostles met the same fate. In fact, all sincere Christians will be hated because they do not embrace worldly values. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you,” John 15:18.
Yet, our suffering develops our characters by teaching us to obey even under extreme persecution. Hebrews 5:8 explains that even Jesus, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” So, we too endure disciplines in order to be developed into His character likeness. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” Hebrews 12:11. Therefore, one result of worship is becoming transformed into His character image. (See Romans 8:29.)
A wonderful benefit of true worship is our heavenly reward. When resurrected, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2) and be co-heirs with Him. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” Romans 8:17.
