"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you" (Genesis 22:5)

Worship, the first time this word is used in the Old Testament, is translated from the Hebrew word, "Shachah" which means, "bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship." We see instances of this type of worship throughout the Bible. But in this instance, "worship" may have meant just a bit more . . . Abraham's act of "worship" was obedience.

Abraham longed for a son for many, many years, and once having received the promise from God, believed in God's promises as indisputable fact even though the manifestation took many, long years.

God desires our worship, our bowing down in homage to Him, doing reverence, falling down before Him. But, He also wants our sacrifice—our obedience.

Abraham knew. The record of his faith still testifies today of his obedience in worship. Does your worship of the King of kings and Lord of lords include "obedience"?

Examine yourself today. Be sure your "worship" includes submissive obedience—obedience to God's leading in your life, obedience to the Word of the Lord.

Father, I long to have the faith of Abraham, to have the courage of Abraham, and to worship You through my obedience as Abraham did. I long to please You as Abraham did. Father, help me to remember to be intimately involved in worshipping You every moment I can, through praise, through worship AND through my obedience. As a child longs to please his parents, so I long to please You, Oh Lord. You are so worthy of all my praise and worship, there is none like You, amen.

© Jan Ross
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