God's True Worshippers See Their Need Of Christ

 

"It is not enough to be worshippers of God, but we must be believers in Jesus Christ, for there is no coming to God as a Father, but by Him as Mediator. But those who worshipped God according to the light they had stood fair for the discoveries of Christ, and His grace to them: for to him that has shall be given: and to them Christ would be welcome, for those that know what it is to worship God see their need of Christ, and know what use to make of His mediation." - Matthew Henry

 

In Acts 18:7, we find a very unique description of Titus Justus which says - "...one that worshipped God..." Here was a Gentile who was a convert to the Christian faith being described as a God-fearer or one who is not an idolater.

 

Isn't that a most beautiful expression for one's character?

 

Is this how others describe you?

Are you one who is a noted God-fearer and a hater of all idolatry?

How can others tell?

 

In John 12:20, we read about a certain group of Greeks or Hellenists who "came up to worship at the feast." What was their main intent?

 

John 12:21 explains - "The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus."

 

These men had a desire to see the Lord Jesus - to be taught by Him...become more acquainted with Him and conformed to His will and ways...and derive grace for living from His words.

 

Isn't this what true worship is all about - Seeing Jesus?

 

The true worshipper is one who has a single aim - I must see Jesus.

 

Many have gone great distances to worship and God was sure to meet them in their pursuit for Truth. The Ethiopian eunuch as described in Acts 8:27 is one example. Here is a man who left the great business of the day to go up to Jerusalem and "worship" - "...and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship."

 

This man was "an eunuch" - not in body but in office. This description was oftentimes given to those in authority at court. He was "an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure ." In other words, he was the lord chamberlain or steward of her household. He was a Jewish proselyte who left his important business to attend the great feasts in Jerusalem - "for to worship." 

 

The true worshipper will lay aside important business in order to seek after the Truth.

 

Acts 10:2 gives us certain distinct features which depict one who worships God - "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."

 

Here we have a description of Cornelius as being a man who was no idolater, kept the law, instructed and trained his family in the ways of the Lord, proved his love for all mankind through acts of charity, and was constantly in the habit of prayer. 

 

"A devout man" - He worshipped the true and living God without any mixture whatsoever of idolatry. He had a reverence for His glory and authority and also had a holy dread of ever offending Him through sin or the immorality which went along with the idolatry of his day.

 

"one that feared God with all his house" - He was one who had a great regard for God's word and law. Whatever instruction he gleaned, he shared it with his family and trained them up in the fear of the Lord.  

 

"which gave much alms to the people" - His piety of heart could be seen in the liberality of his gifts towards those in need.

 

"prayed to God always" - God was the springboard of all blessings and goodness in his life. Hence, he kept himself continuously in the spirit of prayer - displaying a total dependence on Him for all that he had.

 

A true worshipper tolerates no idols or rivals in his heart, dreads the very appearance of evil lest he sin and offend God, trains his family to walk uprightly before the Lord, gives to those in need, and prays without ceasing.

 

Act 16:14 also depicts certain characteristics found in a worshipper of God - "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

 

Being a person of means or great wealth should never hinder anyone from being a true worshipper. Here we have Lydia - a rich saleswoman from Thyatira who conducted a very profitable business of selling purple dye among the wealthy. Yet her affluence did not stop her from giving God first place in her life - "which worshipped God." Her heart was inclined to and her mind engrossed with what Paul was saying - "...she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul." She "heard" him preach. This was part of her worship. She yielded to the grace of the Lord in operation. As He "opened" her "heart," she gave her utmost attention to His Word, received it, and then applied it to her life.

 

A true worshipper shows the grace of God on his heart by attending to the Scriptures whenever they are preached or taught and then readily applies them to his life.

 

It was said of Justus that he was "one that worshipped God."

 

Can this be said of you?

Do others instantly recognize that you are not an idolater and that you allow no rivals to the Lord Jesus in your heart and life?

Is your major goal in life - to gain a greater vision of Jesus in all of His splendor and glory?

Are you willing to set aside the business of the day to seek after Truth?

Do you dread disobeying God - by not giving or praying when called upon to do so?

Are you concerned whether or not your family is serving the Lord Jesus along with you?

Are you a "doer of the Word" and not a "hearer only"(James 1:22)?

 

"We would see Jesus."

 

Aside from everything else, isn't this the true meaning of worship?