Life’s most central and most important thing, O God, is worship of you.
It supersedes everything, the sum of what is required in all that we do.

O to worship the LORD according to the excellence of His greatness,
To know His presence, the good of Him in the beauty of His holiness.

Glory, power and honor belong to the True and Ever - Living One,
His Majesty our God, and to the Lamb His Son.

Worthy is the Almighty to receive adoration, applause and our praise;
For who is like Him in perfections and goodness, on whom our hearts gaze?

Awe and wonder fill us when we behold the works of your hands.
Creation extols you, O Father, before all nations and lands.

All homage and adoration is due you because of who you are,
And because of all you have done in creation to the most distant star.

The heavens prophesy that you are all - wise, powerful and radiant in glory;
Your creation a memorial to your creative word, a message we will carry.

Of a truth heaven is thy throne and earth is thy footstool.
Earth is not our mother, but our inheritance given and governed by your rule.

A distinction between creator and creation in worship must always be made.
All worship of creation and of man (himself) as a god must be stayed.

Your intrinsic value or worth who among us can estimate?
Its too high, indeed, to wonderful for our mere human minds to see and calculate.

It is your choice to unveil your glory to us by revelation.
Apart from it you remain hid; by it we evaluate, and then worship has inspiration.

For the wisdom of worship seek not in the shallow religious church.
Nor on the dusty pages of man’s tradition in the search.

True worship is based on what you have revealed, O God, and upon your command.
We have absolutely no other authority on which to stand.

What is true worship? For many have circumscribed it to a certain hour or place;
To carnal rituals, methods of do’s and don’ts that distort and limit - what a waste.

By this worship many are soulishly impressed, but it is love for God that we must express.
Let us weigh our motives and ask God to search our hearts, for we can’t settle for less.

Insist not to present to Him what you think is His desire;
Appear before Him in spiritual wisdom with no strange fire.*

Worship, Jesus said, can only be in spirit and truth, ever a divine standard.
From sinful flesh it must not emerge, and in appearance it must be real or else it is barred.

The scope of worship entails an unending, diligent pursuit of total obedience.
For when we obey from the heart in this lifestyle, our worship is true and intense.

Do we perceive that disobedience negates worship? So in it have no part.
Rebellion proves that there is a low estimation of God in the heart.

This is worship, to keep our lives from sin and His name fear;
By denying ourselves, doing His will, and to Him drawing near.

Furthermore it is expressed in dance, clapping of hands and in songs of praise;
By believing, praying and holy hands raised.

Corporately as a people, worship is a joyous celebration of God our King;
Then come into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise to sing.

To approach the LORD and worship we cannot do it in our own might;
His grace must be appropriated to fulfill it and do it right.

Arise to living, dynamic worship that His glory may come in;
O let us repent for vain worship when it has been, and become cleansed of sin.

For the LORD our God in such worship shall upon us descend,
And a pouring out of His goodness in joy and peace shall He send.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Psa. 95:6.

“Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things.” Rev. 4:11

* Strange fire means things of human origin. Lev. 10:1

By John L Parault