The Heart Of Worship
Because we are His people, we represent Him to the world. Our actions tell others how serious we are about our faith.
The Heart Of Worship
J. I. Packer was one of the great Christian writers of our age. He passed away just a few years ago, but his influence remains strong. In his book, Knowing God, he described what it truly means to worship.
According to Packer, worship is not a single act that takes place in a certain building. Worship is a relationship we have with God. It happens all the time. We worship not only with our words, but in the way we live our lives every day.
1 John 2:6 tells us that God expects us to live our lives like worshippers. Because we are His people, we represent Him to the world. Our actions tell others how serious we are about our faith. For many people, our lives are the only knowledge of God they will ever have. They are watching us—and learning about Him.
1 John 2:6
“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
In my many years of talking with people about God and the church, I have learned that one of the main reasons people do not go to church is because of the people who already go there. How often have we heard someone say that the church is full of hypocrites?
They see us go to church and say one thing, then go to work—or the store—and act as if we don’t know God at all. People notice that inconsistency. They recognize the hypocrisy.
John tells us plainly that those who call themselves Christians should live like Christians—not just in church, but all the time. “He who says… ought to walk”means we should practice what we preach. If we say we follow Christ, our lives should reflect it.
People know when we fall short of that standard. For many, we are the only picture of Christ they will ever see. Yes—that’s true. If you belong to Christ, you are His representative to the world. God’s people should act like they are God’s people.
Your actions are a living testimony to the truth that God is real—and that He makes a real difference in the lives of those who love Him. Show the world how much God means to you. Show His love in all that you do.
John 13:35
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
