ADORE
23rd Nov 2016
I love the way the Holy Spirit takes hold of familiar words of Scripture making them become “living, active and sharper than a two edged sword”. Recently, I was reading in John 4:23 - 24 in The Message, where Jesus is speaking about worship, “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God” NOT - “what you’re called ....or where you go to worship.”
These are the words that arrested me, “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
As I read these words I asked myself many questions. What do I know of this deep engagement “spirit to spirit”? What do I know about adoration? In these terms, do I really worship? I was particularly challenged by the whole concept of “adoration”. How does one adore?
I began thinking about the times I have held a new baby, after giving birth, gazing at this new human being, looking and looking in wonder and praise; looking to know, actively commit to memory the features of this new being. There is an intensity in the gaze and however much you look there is more to see.
In a book where an older saint is encouraging a disciple in prayer, he advises, “Be faithful in your adoration.” I find using old hymns to be helpful, many of the old hymn writers seem to understand adoration, and I’m using these words until I find my own. A modern song by Phil Wickham tells me he has touched something in the realm of adoration:
“A million words could not express the beauty of your perfect light.
I adore you, I love everything you are.”
Click this link and listen to the full song.
We shall soon all be seeing “O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord” let it be the true expression of our hearts.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
