Worship Matters

Worship of our holy, loving God is the most critical thing we can do. From the beginning of the Bible to the end, the theme of worship permeates every book. Putting God first and listening to His voice was what the Lord wanted. But when our first human parents failed, sin entered the world. Immediately afterward, the first violent action happened; it was over the question of HOW God was to be worshipped. Worship Matters

As we turn the pages of the Holy Scripture, one at a time, we go past page 1,000. And there, on the final pages of the Bible, we have numerous insights into who is there, the place, the actions, and what we will do until we finally worship God forever. When we are with God for eternity, our worship will be one of service, though we can’t imagine the details now. God will dwell with his people and wipe away every tear from our eyes. The regular flowering of beautiful trees will bring healing to the nations. We have come full circle from the Garden of Eden to the New Garden in heaven.

I love to follow the names of God through the Scriptures. And here, we find an unusual combination of words. “He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty, I will give him a drink without cost.” Rev. 21. 6

The ancient Greeks upheld "The Iliad," for it taught the ancient world about Hellenistic religion and culture. In everyday language, this book, the history of Troy and the story of the gods, was called the “Alpha and the Omega.” Why? The first chapter starts with the Greek letter Alpha, and the last begins with Omega.

Jesus challenges that entire system of godless worship. Our Lord is the beginning and the end. He is the one we adore and worship. We bow down before him with joy, acknowledging him in all things to the glory of God the Father.

Worship is central when we are concerned with a unique treasure: passing along the teaching of the Scriptures and preparing men and women for a lifetime of pastoral work. Theological education in North America requires many years of investment. We are blessed with seminaries, colleges, institutes, and local programs.

However, in most of the world, including Latin America, only a few can afford the lengthy process of Western Education. Consequently, many local pastors in cities, towns, and villages wait for further training. Training others involves many steps, including strengthening relationships between students and teachers. And we must remember the fantastic abilities of children. They learn to sing, memorize, and join in with adults in praying. At every age, worship matters!