WORSHIP
Matthew 5
“Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose—all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.” – William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury
It is common that Christians look at the Beatitudes as a blueprint for how we can be blessed. But we can also look at it from another standpoint: what is it that gladdens the heart of God? Surely we can trust that when God is pleased he will bless and protect and empower.
Seen in this light then, we can understand the Beatitudes as a simple (but not necessarily comprehensive) list that will help us to know God, and in knowing Him, to please him. This, in simple terms, is what worship is.
Jesus outlines to us that in our relationship with God, we must know our place, know our situation and know where our hope lies. This is because God is the wholly other and we are nothing before him; God is the fulfilment of all that we are created to be and we are tragic failures without him; and God is the only one who can rescue us and change our destiny.
Jesus reminds us that God is righteous, merciful and pure-hearted and when we seek to emulate him then we will find that he opens doors for us to succeed. This is his will after all.
Finally, God desires that as his people on earth, we will work to draw others to him rather than to manipulate or even force Him onto others. We are not to isolate ourselves away or adopt an air of superiority. Satan will oppose but we are not to be drawn to fight fire with fire. Instead, just as we are to be meek, we rest on God and trust that he will protect our souls. God will never turn his back on those who serve him faithfully but will reward his faithful.
Thus true worship shapes us to be truly blessed.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”