The Audience Of One

Mommy I wish he could have heard me.

That’s what my daughter said to me after church one night a year or so ago. She was told that a famous singer and recording artist had been there.

She said, “If only I could have met him, he might have hooked me up with a recording deal.” I laughed a little (on the inside) when I thought about the ramifications of this statement.

To think that at such a young age, my daughter thought she had already missed her big opportunity.

Our Big Opportunity for Love
I think we’ve all felt this way at one time or another… especially when it comes to our worship. Many times, we’re focused on the people around us.

We want them to hear us sing. We want them to see us dance and raise our hands. But worship shouldn’t be a show for the people around us.

In reality, our audience is an audience of One.

Worship is our response.
Worship is a heartfelt response that comes from an understanding of who God is, and what He’s done for us.

Abraham had a full revelation of who God was, and he trusted Him completely.

Genesis 15:6 says that his trust in God was credited to him as righteousness.

In Genesis 22, Abraham’s trust is put to the test when God asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar.

While this might sound extreme today, Abraham’s response was one of complete and total trust in and love for God.

He knew…
In Genesis 22:5, Abraham said, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

You see, he never doubted God’s goodness. He spoke in faith (or in trust), “We will come back.”

When Isaac (who was probably 11 at the time) asked, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering,” Abraham answered in faith by saying, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:7-8)

Then, after Abraham had gone as far as to bind his son to the altar and raise his knife to complete the sacrifice, God intervened.

God said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

This story reveals Abraham’s complete and total trust in a loving God, the result of which is his worship.

What do you worship?
The fact is that everyone worships something or someone. Cardinals fans worship the team with their time, energy, and money.

If you’re like most people in St. Louis, you’ll rearrange your schedule if you’re offered free tickets.
At the game, you’ll jump up and down and cheer. You’ll spend hundreds of dollars on a soda and a hot dog. It’s worth it, right?

Worship means to show something’s worth.
The word “worship” is derived from two Old English words, “worth” and “ship.”

When we put these together, we see that “worth-ship” is the quality of having worth or of being worthy. So when we worship, we are saying that God is worth it.

Of course, God can see our heart, so don’t mistake worship as just the songs we sing on Sunday mornings. Paul says that we should give all of our faculties (or talents) to God, for this is our act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Our life should be as a living sacrifice to glorify, extol, lift up, and praise His name.
Like Abraham, there will be times when our faith in God is tested by circumstances that just don’t make sense. But if you know who God is, and if you know that His plans for you are good, then there’s only one way to respond to life’s trials… with a heart of worship.

As you go through your day today, focus on God’s goodness. Give Him the praise and know that whatever you’re facing, He will bring you through it.

Like Abraham, place all of your trust in your Savior. Believe me, He is worth it!