Longing for Worship

Monday, December 22, 2025

Today’s Reading: Psalm 89:1-18

Worship is so instinctual that we don’t even realize we do it. We do it by default. As we grow and discover the social cues around us, we look to people for a template for how to live. It starts with our caretaker, and can later be a spouse, a celebrity, a political leader, or a mentor. Over time, our idols may change, but we still tend to put someone on a pedestal, respecting them, imitating them, adoring them, and often wishing we were more like them. It’s possible one may even reach a point where they respect or adore no one more than themselves. That focus on someone is worship. We may not all worship a deity, but we will all worship someone. 

It makes sense that adoration from afar would look different than affection expressed to someone near. Little girls pretending to be their favorite singer is much more distant and shallow than the husband who cherishes and dotes on his wife (or vice-versa). In either case, attention is given to someone deemed worthy of high regard. 

When God formed us (Psalm 139:13), He made a throne for Himself in our hearts, but He waits for us to invite Him to take His rightful place on it. Until the time we realize that seat is for Him, we are inclined to try other occupants. We are called to love everyone, but those loves must be rightly ordered or they become idolatrous. So looking up to another person or loving your spouse is only problematic when they have the throne, a place reserved for the only One worthy of it. 

Live in the wonder of Advent every day, and your worship will intensify. We worship God because of who He is! Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). And the more you see His character, the more you will long to worship Him! He is worthy!

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Luke 2:13-14 NIV)

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:20 NIV)

“The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him.” (Matthew 2:11a NIV)

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

(Revelation 5:12, 13 NIV)

So how do we worship the One who is worthy? As an Israelite priest had to offer blood sacrifice day after day to cover the sins of himself and the people, now Jesus — fully God and fully man — came to earth as our high priest, sacrificing “once for all when he offered Himself…” (Hebrews 7:27 NIV) So our worship now is not in a sacrifice of blood, but in the sacrifice of praise. 

Our Sunday songs, though, are just the overflow of the worship welling up within us as we offer our daily lives through the week. If our weekdays are the standard movements in a symphony, then our corporate Sunday praise is the finale. Don’t just sing about Him; live for Him. That is the worship He deserves.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1 NIV)