“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John

4:24). Worship has requirements, there are some things we “must” do. One requirement is to

worship God in spirit, having the right attitude, motivation, etc. Another requirement is to

worship God in truth.

• “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of

holiness” (Psa. 29:2).

• “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker”

(Psa. 95:6).

I know that the Bible teaches that we are to attend worship. I also know that it is our duty

as faithful members of the Lord’s church to contact those who are not “attending” to let them

know that we miss them and to encourage them to be present in the assembly of the saints. “Not

forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;

and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). To worship God is more

than mere attendance. It is an action aimed toward God that is done by the faithful child of God.

It is fulfilling God’s desire for us to pray to Him, sing praises to Him, preach His Word,

remember His Son at His Supper, and give to Him as we have prospered through the week. It is

praising Him, revering Him, bowing to Him, symbolically prostrating ourselves before Him. It is

giving God what He wants in His way. It is participatory in nature. I have to do it in order for it

to be done. No one else can do it for me. No one else can do it in my place. If I am not a

participant in worship then I am not worshiping!

Ask yourself the following question: “When I come to worship, do I worship?” Sounds

simple doesn’t it. It really is! And at the same time it is a major factor that determines if God

accepts what I am doing in the assembly. No worship is done by observing! Decide, therefore, to

be a participant and not an observer! ~ Brad Tolbert