“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1).
“Worship is the dramatic celebration of God in his supreme worth in such a manner that his ‘worthiness’ becomes the norm and inspiration of human living.” (Ralph P. Martin)
Worship is of central importance in the sacred scriptures for good reason. Our whole-hearted response to ultimate reality – the presence of God – defines who we are and how we will live. We live according to our ultimate value, in regard to that which we ascribe ultimate worth. Worship is no less than ascribing worthship to God – ultimate worthship. The ultimate worthship of God puts everything else in proper perspective.
Worship confesses God’s ultimate value – God’s “supreme worth.” And this worth has significance for human existence, for it is “the norm and inspiration of human living.” All “lesser” values are viewed in relation to God who possesses ultimate value. Thus, worship continually reorients our values to correspond to the reality of God’s supreme worth.
Put simply: God loves us whole-heartedly and longs for us to respond in kind – with whole-hearted, passionate worship.