Worship begins with an invitation. “Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.” (Psalm 95:6–7, CSB) Worship is always a choice.
Everyone is invited to worship. No one is excluded from the invitation. Many will ignore it, make excuses, find better things to do (in their estimation). Others will come with the attitude of “there’s no better place I’d rather be.”
“Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.” (Psalm 84:10, CSB)
God invites us into His presence. He calls us to come and worship. More than that, He made the way to worship. Before Christ’s death, the fullness of worship was denied to all but a few. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to worship before the mercy seat. When Christ died, the veil was torn (Mark 15:38), and the way was opened for all to fully worship. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—” (Hebrews 10:19–20, CSB)
Many of us feel unworthy to worship. Our sins and mistakes are too great. And since God is holy, we feel He will reject our worship. That was the expectation prior to Christ. The priests and the High Priest underwent elaborate preparation for worship. We read in Psalm 24 about the need for clean hands and a pure heart to worship. But no one is righteous. Hebrews 9:13-14 reminds us that it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us. The prophet Isaiah saw this day and said, “Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, CSB) We aren’t worthy, no one is. But we have been made clean by the blood of Jesus.
But here we run into another problem. People take our freedom in Christ and assume that God doesn’t care how they worship. That anyone can worship anyway they choose. While there is freedom, there is also a tell when something isn’t worship. While we no longer sacrifice animals, worship still requires sacrifice. That sacrifice means laying down something we’d rather be doing to give God our full attention. Time is the obvious sacrifice. But so too is forgiveness.
Jesus taught, “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24, CSB)
Worship requires Jesus. We can’t come close any other way. Let’s put a New Testament spin on an Old Testament encounter. In Genesis chapter 4, Abel and Cain are worshiping God through offerings. “In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.” (Genesis 4:3–5, CSB) Abel approached God in worship through the blood of Christ represented in the slain animal. Cain approached God his own way and without the blood of Christ. Are we coming to worship by the blood of Christ or our own merits and in our own way?
The invitation is sent. The way is provided. What will we choose? What attitude will we bring to the throne room of God? What sacrifice are we willing to make to worship? If we don’t get these right, then the rest of this series means nothing.
- Essential Worship – A Worship Map - March 4, 2026
- Proverbs – Anxiety - March 2, 2026
- Essential Worship – Sprirt and Truth - February 25, 2026
