Agape Love
Devotion and Worship
DEVOTION
Colossians 2:6-8 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
By definition, devotion is the disposition of will to do promptly what concerns the worship and service of God. Although devotion is primarily a disposition or attitude of the will, acts of the will that proceed from such disposition are also expressions of devotion. Essential to devotion is readiness to do whatever gives honor to God, whether in public or private prayer (worship) or in doing the will of God (service). A person who is thus disposed is said to be devoted. His devotedness is ultimately rooted in a great love for God which in spiritual theology is often called devotion.
Devotion is a far lesser form of attachment. We can be devoted to many things, including people. We can be (and should be) devoted to our families. We are often devoted to our jobs, or a political cause, or some hobby. But these things must never get in the way of our relationship with God, or else that constitutes idolatry, which, very simply, is the worship of anything besides God. Devotions should, actually, HELP us worship God. Devotion should be a part of our lives that helps keep us from the near occasion of sin, and keeps our thoughts on Heaven and God's will. Most bible based devotion simply involves our commitment to prayer.
As the Bible stands at the core of what God has revealed to us, sound popular devotions should naturally be strongly imbued with biblical themes, language, and imagery. Today it is recognized as a general need of Christian piety that every form of worship should have based on God’s word. The tools of devotionals provides revealing inspiration to worship and honor our Heavenly Father, it also provides real words of wisdom, guidance, inspiration, comfort and encouragement in our everyday lives, concerns, health, finance, family, thus, keeping us every growing. Devotion through the word and prayer keeps us connected in the Lord. Isaiah 5:21 Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! So what can I get out of devotion?
1. What new or re-newed insight from read the word daily?
2. Reflect on the message that is being conveyed and it can be applied in your life
3. See the message of encouragement; what does God have for me today?
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
James 4:1 From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
In all devotion, give praise to Father God for giving you the spiritual blessings in word an prayer. Psalm 7: 17 “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”
Hebrews 13: 15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
WORSHIP
Exodus 20: 3 - 5 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. ”You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them…” and Matthew 22:37 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul.”
Worship is reserved for God alone. The Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By definition, it is the acknowledgment of another's worth, dignity, or superior position. In our faith, worship is given either to God, Divine worship actually includes three principal acts, namely adoration (or the recognition of God's infinite perfection), prayer or the asking for divine help, and sacrifice or the offering of something precious to our Father God. Worship as veneration in three principal forms, in the name and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Spirit, interceded by the Holy Spirit.
Worship is an attitude and a way of life. Romans 12:1 says our spiritual act of worship is offering our bodies as a living sacrifice. This means we are continually offering everything we are and do to God. It is giving ourselves to God in every area of our lives. Continually thinking of and talking to Him throughout the day. It is about looking for where God is working and becoming a part of His work. Making your top priority to serve God is worship. Being open and obedient every minute to whatever He may ask of you. It is taking pleasure in serving God in everything you do, like washing the dishes, vacuuming, typing up a report, copying, filing, etc.
Colossians 1:10 tells us we are to “live a life worthy of the Lord”, that it “may please Him in every way” and we are to be “bearing fruit in every good work”. Again we need to live our lives always trying to find ways to live for and please God. Colossians 3:23 tells us that no matter what we are doing we are working for God, whether at work, being parents, relating to others or serving at church. So whether the job is big or small we should take joy in it, because it is where God has put us at that moment in our lives. So worship is living every moment to its fullest and doing it to please the Lord.
How worship helps us have a better perspective on life and all the situations we encounter. Also, it helps us in our daily spiritual battles. It helps us to focus on God and remember what He has done for us and His promises for the future. It helps us to express our emotions as well as to be able to deal with them in the proper way. In the Psalms we see David and other writers worshiping and praising God. Each of the writers express a wide range of emotions from fear, frustration, anger, doubt and discouragement to joy and peace. You see them work through their emotions by praising and worshiping God for who He is and what He has done for them. We cannot change our emotions but we can change our thought patterns, which in turn will help us to change our emotions.
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Devotion and Worship
Devotion and Worship: the two are absolutely different, although we may sometimes speak of them as if they are interchangeable. Devotions means: piety, devout, dedication, consecration, commitment, spiritual fervor. Worship is love, adoration, reverence, veneration, adulation, glorifying and praising God in all.
