Posts tagged with 'praise'

What Is Worship?

  • Posted on March 6, 2019 at 1:25 pm

Several months ago, someone suggested that I do a word study on praise vs. worship since I use the two interchangeably when, in fact, they are two different things. I appreciated the gentle admonition so, although it’s taken a while, I am finally sitting down to do that and am sharing my findings with you.

Dictionary.com defines “praise” as:

1. the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation
2. the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship (emphasis mine).

“Worship” is described as:

1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage 

I often call “praise” worship but worship encompasses much more than verbal praise. Everything you do should be worship.

John 4:23 tells us that “the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”

I think it is safe to say that the people or things that you idolize is who or what you worship. This is why Jesus told Satan, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve’” (Matthew 4:10). God is a jealous God, and He will not share His glory with anyone else.

Today I want to encourage you to “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.

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