In my last article I introduced three characteristics
of a true worshiper. 1. A true worshiper worship the Father. 2.
A true worshiper worships in spirit. 3. A true worshiper worships
in truth. In this article I want to explore how a true worshiper
worships the Father.
In chapter thirteen of Hebrews the
writer offers us a definition of sacrificial praise. Verse fifteen
reads, "Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice
of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks
to his name." According to this definition a sacrifice of praise
consists of two things; the fruit of our lips and giving thanks
to his name.
While driving home from work one
evening I found myself following a quarter ton truck loaded with
rotten fruits and vegetables. The farmer must have gathered them
to feed his animals. They were certainly not fit for human consumption.
According to the original Greek manuscripts, the fruit spoken of
in the above passage refers to plucked fruit, ripe, ready to eat,
good fruit, fresh from the tree. This would lead us to believe that
our sacrifice of praise is the best fruit of our lips, the first
fruit of the picking, not something that is left over, blemished
or rotten.
Many people over the years have taught
that a sacrifice of praise is praise that is given when the worshiper
doesn't feel like praising. This definition totally misses the meaning
of the scripture and places the focus of worship on the worshiper
instead of the one receiving the worship.
As you read the Old Testament book
of Leviticus you learn that the sacrifices required in the Tabernacle
of Moses were only acceptable if they were without blemish. The
worshiper didn't bring something he didn't want or could not use.
He brought the best of his flock, and brought is willingly. The
requirement of a true worshiper is the same today. He must bring
the best he has, not his leftovers, and he must bring is willingly.
Worship doesn't depend on how the
worshiper feels but on how great a God his is worshiping. Worship
doesn't depend on the outward appearance of the worshiper or his
circumstances, but on the greatness of the one who controls the
circumstances and the work he has done on the inside of the worshiper.
Notice the writer of Hebrews says,
"Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise…"
(italics mine). The "him" he is referring to is Jesus. In verse
twelve of the same chapter he writes, "Therefore Jesus also, that
he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside
the gate." In chapter ten of Hebrews the writer states that the
worshiper enters the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.
We cannot offer to God the best we
have apart from the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. His sacrifice
makes our sacrifice of praise acceptable. We must come to the Father
by him. Though we have a responsibility to worship the Father, we
cannot come to him on the basis of our own merit. We only have access
to his presence by the blood of Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus'
sacrifice should fuel our worship. We should offer to him the best
that we have because he offered for us the best that he had. It's
all about him.
