Offering God More Than A Song
“Worship isn’t about the people. Worship isn’t about the music. Worship is about giving God the honor and glory He deserves.”
As I anticipated this year’s conference, I found myself overly excited for ‘Overflow Night’. For as long as I can remember, YEM’s Summer Conference has always had its worship night on Friday, and each time it was deeply impactful. Whenever we would gather, the atmosphere would change, and the presence of God would be evident. This year, I went into the worship night with expectations of crying or feeling overwhelmed. However, I didn’t expect to be challenged on the posture and authenticity of my worship towards God.
During the prayer session led by our sister Dzifa G, she reminds us that it is a privilege to worship God. She took us through 2 Samuel 24:24, where we see King David grappling with the consequences of his sin against God. When he saw the angel of the Lord ready to destroy Jerusalem, David begged for forgiveness and asked that the punishment be placed on him and his family instead of the people. God then told David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Although Araunah generously offered to give the land to David free of charge, David insisted, saying that he would not “offer to God that which costs him nothing.” From David’s example, we learn that true worship and sacrifice involve repentance for reconciliation. It comes from the love we have for the Father and can also serve to reveal God to others. Like everything we do in the kingdom, our sacrifices reflect Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.
The worship we offer is not about us, nor is it meant for our benefit. Since it flows from our hearts, we must constantly “examine ourselves” to discover where our true treasures lie. Matthew 6:21 assures us that wherever our treasures are, our hearts will also be there. Therefore, idols such as social media and other distractions that occupy space within our hearts and time during our days can hinder our worship.
What we offer in worship should be costly because it is sacred. As you reflect on your own worship, what are you offering God that truly costs you something? It can be as simple as replacing your screentime with time in the Word and prayer.
