Loving God 1: A Life Consumed with Love for God
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
Anyone who is paying attention to their life with God knows true worship is not confined to an hour on Sunday. It is the awed, reverential response of a redeemed heart to the saving acts and matchless character of our triune God. From a Protestant perspective, worship flows from the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the ongoing illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is not earned through ritual but overflows from a heart gripped by grace.
Worship begins with awe. Isaiah 6 paints the picture: the prophet beholds the Lord high and lifted up, and his immediate response is, “Woe is me!” Yet in that holy encounter, he encounters cleansing and commissioning. Today, we stand not before the temple but before the throne of grace through Jesus, our Great High Priest. The only proper object of our worship is the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who created us and redeemed us at infinite cost.
In the Old Testament, worship involved tangible acts that expressed deep reverence. Bringing an offering (qārab) acknowledged God as the giver of life. Bowing low (ḥāwâ) displayed inner humility before the Creator. Lifting up praise (rûm) and celebrating with song (hālal, from which we get “hallelujah”) exalted God’s name. These were not empty motions but outward signs of a heart that recognized God’s providence, protection, and mercy. Festivals reminded Israel of God’s past deliverance and present care.
The New Testament carries these truths forward while transforming them through Christ. We no longer offer animal sacrifices because Jesus is the once-for-all Lamb of God. Yet we still bow (proskyneō) and bend the knee in reverence. We give glory (doxazō) and bless (eulogeō) the Lord. The early church gathered regularly to learn the apostles’ teaching, pray, share resources, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper—a constant reminder of atonement through Christ’s body and blood.
Worship is not limited to gathered services. Romans 12:1–2 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God—this is our spiritual worship. Colossians 3:17 instructs that whatever we do, in word or deed, we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Every act of obedience, every mundane task done for His glory, becomes worship. A mother changing diapers, a worker completing an honest day’s labor, a student studying diligently—all can be sacred when offered to Christ.
Worship expresses itself in many forms: confession of sin (Psalm 51), lament over a broken world while trusting God’s promise to make all things new (Psalm 44), praise for God’s character and deeds (Exodus 15), thanksgiving for His gifts (Psalm 138), and pure adoration of who He is (Psalm 8). In the church, we gather not merely for personal benefit but to mature together, strengthen one another, and advance Christ’s mission.
So, how is your worship? Does it flow naturally like breathing because God’s saving grace has so transformed you? Or has it grown cold, routine, or compartmentalized? The depth of our worship reveals the depth of our love for God. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Loving God means following Jesus daily and, in turn, serving others as an overflow of that love.
Our church exists to help you grow in this: to understand biblical worship, experience personal intimacy with God, and carry a lifestyle of worship into every sphere of life. When worship consumes us, we become people who truly love God—heart, soul, mind, and strength.
May your life be a continual offering of praise. May every breath declare His worth. And may we one day join the multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation, falling before the Lamb and crying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” (Revelation 5:12).Prayer: Heavenly Father, ignite in us a fresh passion to love You with all we are. Teach us to worship You in spirit and truth, not just with lips but with lives fully surrendered. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
