lw10-01an

OCTOBER, 2001

The Cost of Worship
By Pastor Anita Norris

In the beginning, worship was part of God's plan for relationship with man. Even the original sin was a simple matter of obedience versus disobedience. Adam and Eve could choose whether to continue in relationship of obedience and intimacy with God, or they could choose to ignore Him and go their own way. Ever since then, the issue of obedience has been at the problem we have with worship. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve chose disobedience (Genesis Chapter 3).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ chose obedience (Mark 14:32-36), even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Even in the face of death, Christ worshipped the Father by being obedient.

Mark 14:32-36 – “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Abraham, likewise, understood that obedience would be the measure of his stature before God. He knew that even in offering his son, God himself was ultimately looking for worship in obedience. Abraham recognized his trip that day as one of worship (Genesis 22:5). Abraham recognized that true worship would cost him everything he held dear (Hebrews 11:17-19), and left the responsibility of the results of his worship to God with God.

Genesis 22:5 – “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”

Hebrews 11:17-19 – “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called; Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

David knew also that any true worship had to involve personal cost and sacrifice. David knew there was a price to be paid (I Chronicles 21:24) for following God, and that each person has to give up their own sacrifice. Offering another person's gift was unacceptable.

I Chronicles 21:24 -- But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

Finally, Christ paid the ultimate price (I Peter 3:18) for our freedom to worship, in which we can draw near (Hebrews 4:16) to the living God.

1 Peter 3:18 -- “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

May we echo David in his cry to bring his own commitment as the sacrifice given to God in worship: But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."