A Heart of WorshipSample

Biblical worship & The presence of God

A.W. Tozer wrote, “It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table.”

Now that is a thought-provoking illustration.

Picture God the Father’s table and seated at it people who call themselves Christ followers. People who are invited to the table because of Jesus' blood poured out for us, so we may share in Kingdom fellowship with God forever. At the Father’s table are portions of love, grace, peace, hope, kindness, and most importantly, Christ himself. Yet, in this illustration, these people are starving. Why? How? How can a person be starving if they follow Christ?

An important part of this illustration for Christ followers, perhaps less obvious from the outside appearance, is that of the posture of our own heart. When the posture of our heart becomes focused on something or someone else, where Jesus should be, that other source of sustenance doesn’t satisfy—and ultimately that will leave us starving.

In other words, if our heart is distracted just enough, if our mind is distracted just enough, if we turn our eyes away from the light and glory of Jesus, we won’t experience what is right in front of us, the presence of God. Suddenly, we have placed a false sense of worth on another object, and we never even had to leave the table!

But, there is good news! It is just the mercy and grace of God that we, the Church, can enter the presence of God personally. A.W. Tozer shared these words, “The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter His presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us.”

This is where biblical worship comes in. We experience the presence of God through a lifestyle of authentic worship unto God. The presence of God is soul-quenching, and we are meant to experience His presence in the total composition of our lives. Let’s learn about biblical worship and what this means for ourselves, as Christ followers, and for the Church.

Pray: Jesus, forgive me for turning away from you. I desire to know you, to be in right relationship with you and to delight in your soul-quenching presence. Amen.