But I would submit that there is something of great significance which is being overlooked by a multitude of well meaning Christian individuals. It is an opportunity and, yea, a responsibility to give God the gift of true worship.

From the above verses, we see that at the very beginning of Christ's appearance on earth, there were those who truly worshipped Him, and that God is still looking for that kind of worship.

The verse from John gives us at least 3 very important truths in its implications.

The first is that God is 'longing for worship.' The fact that He is seeking individuals to give it, implies that He 'desires' worship. One does not go looking for something unless they have a desire for what they seek Many folks have the idea that God has no needs, but that He only works to supply ours. This is not true, for in Acts 13:2, we read, 'As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.' The verse plainly tells us they were 'ministering to the Lord,' and the primary meaning of the word minister means 'to supply.' There is in the word itself an implication of a 'lack.' Some might argue that God cannot lack and has no 'need,' or He would not be God. While it is true that God would still exist, and still be God, without man ministering to Him, His desire for man's worship is what creates the need for it. God created His own need when He had a desire.

An illustration of this would be seen in a man seeking a wife. A man can live as a bachelor, as evidenced by the Apostle Paul. Paul had no problem living this way and even said that he would desire that all men do the same. Paul apparently had no desire to be married, but he realized that most men would. He advised them to do so rather than 'burn.' He was speaking of having a tremendous desire. That desire would create in the man a need for a wife to fulfill the desire. So God could exist without man's worship, but the fact that He desires it is what created the need for it in Him.

The second truth from John 4:23, is that God is 'looking for worship.' The word 'seek' means 'to strive after; to go about to find; to aim for, etc.' God is actively involved in an attempt to get individuals to worship Him. The scriptures tell us that Christ came to 'seek and to save sinners.' The main purpose of this was not merely to take them to heaven, but to receive from them worship. Indeed, this is the reason we will be taken to heaven: to worship Him throughout eternity. The scriptures tell us that all things were created 'by Him and For Him,' and we only get what we receive in order to fulfill His desires.

The third truth from John 4, and the saddest of these, is that God is 'lacking worship.' The word seek means 'to try to find; to make a search; to try to get, etc.' The word seek does not merely imply, but makes it clear, that there is no abundance of worshippers. Rather, there is a sad shortage of same. To think that God is forced to have to search for worshippers ought to motivate any true Christian to turn to God and give Him what He desires! Yet many Baptist churches today have eliminated the ability of individuals to 'truly worship.' Don't get me wrong, there are still so-called 'worship services' in most of these churches, on Sunday morning at least. The problem lies in the definition of worship. What is 'true worship?' Is it what we see in most churches today, or is something missing? To see, I believe we need only look at the above verse from Matthew.

First, we see that true worship has 'an object.' Both of the scriptures above speak of an individual who is worshipped. It is not a worship of an 'ideal,' of 'doctrines,' of 'principles,' etc. It is worship of a 'person.' It is not merely attending a service, singing some hymns, hearing a sermon and then going out like one came in. It is directed toward the person of God. In Matthew, the wise men worshipped Christ. In John, the Father seeks worship. In both instances, it is God as a literal and living individual that is the object of worship.

Secondly, we see that worship has 'a position.' The wise men 'fell down' and worshipped. They prostrated themselves; that is, they laid out on the ground. True worship does not necessarily demand that one physically fall out on the floor (although it does not prohibit it either), but it requires a humbling of one's self before God. You will notice that this occurred in the wise men when 'they saw' the child. One glimpse of God will produce in an individual a reality of the vast gulf between man and God, and will automatically humble them. You will not have to attempt to humble yourself. It is true that James 4:10 admonishes us to 'humble yourselves in the sight of God,' but the key phrase there is 'in the sight of.' This means that God will see it. There is a time for abasing one's self. But the 'presence' of the 'person of God' will produce an automatic humility! This is where true worship at its best can be experienced.

Thirdly, John 4:23 shows us that worship has 'a cost.' Space prohibits dealing with this in the depth that I would like, but observe the following. Here were men who went many miles and over a long period of time to worship the Lord. They had to give their lives to that sole purpose until they had achieved what they sought. They had to endure much to come to where Jesus was in order that they might worship Him. They spent much on the gifts which they brought. These gifts were not merely common items available at little expense. Gold, especially, was one of the most precious substances of that day, as well as ours. These men were of high intelligence and degree, as well as social standing in their own country, no doubt. Yet they gave up their lives and traveled thousands of difficult miles to bow at the feet of an infant. This does not mean that one has to travel long distances physically or spend great sums of money in worshipping. There is a spiritual analogy that applies to worship that can be seen in the actions of the wise men.

The truth is that there will be a great price to be paid by those who wish to become true worshippers. Our entire being must be given over to the desire to worship. We must be willing to be seen as foolish by those around us. Imagine the response the wise men likely would have gotten from those who would ask where they were headed and what they intended to do. When these men told of their intention to travel far to worship at the feet of an infant, they were likely scorned and ridiculed. One might argue that this would not be so since they were going to worship a king, I would reply that it was a king of another nationality. We must be willing to devote time to the practice of worship. Today's church services are growing shorter and shorter and some churches have even eliminated some of their services. God is given only 60 minutes a week in many places and still it is called worship! Even where the traditional 3 services on Sunday and one on Wednesday are observed, little in the way of worship takes place.

There is much more that could be pointed out just form the verse from John given at the beginning of this article regarding worship. But I want to close with a fourth observation.

True worship has 'a motivation.' There is something that will move one to worship. It is not just being told that God longs for it, looks for it, and lacks it. One may feel some emotion produced by reading that and say, "I ought to worship," and then do so. A sense of 'duty' might be stirred in them as a result of reading the above. There is no doubt that worship brought on by this would be better than not worshipping at all, but that would not really be true worship.

True worship is produced by seeing the person of God, by contemplating the worth of God, by considering the works of God, and being stirred within by the Spirit of God to appreciate what a privilege we have in the fact that God, who is Divine Perfection, would desire worship from such a lowly creature as man!

True worship is an outward response to a moving in the heart of the child of God to want to move toward Him and lay gifts at His feet. May all of us who make the claim of being His children offer God the one gift that He most desires this Christmas - the gift of true worship. It is a gift that He will never tire of, or get too much of. Many will find it to be so pleasant that they will want to do it all year long.
 

May God bless with a wonderful Christmas and a bountiful New Year.