Worship

I think there is a lot to be said about worship. I also think that there is a lot being said about worship that is wrong. If you look at the Old Testament example of worship, that occurred in the tabernacle, we see a great picture. When the priest went into the the "holy place" there was a lot of preparation. After he made all of the sacrifices of the day he would then go to the Laver and prepare himself for worship. The Laver was a piece of furniture, much like a sink, it contained water in it's basin and it's bottom was made of mirrors. The priest would look at himself as he washed all of the filth off of his body, the dust of the earth which was the tabernacles floor, the blood of the sacrifices of the day, etc. I see a great picture of how a christian prepares him or herself for worship. We must come to God, clean of the filth of the world, our sins. This also speaks of how worship to God is not tainted by the world. You see, worship back then is the same now, we worship a Holy God, one of Jealousy and Righteousness. Yes He is Love, but that mentality that God is Love, tends to stop right there, and ignore the other attributes of God. I believe that the philosophy that we can worship God in anyway that we see fit, without meeting any standard, is a very unrighteous philosophy. I know that there is no prescribed manner given to us for worship, but there are plenty of principles to follow and we worship God for who He is, Holy, Loving, Righteous, Forgiving, Jealous, Longsuffering. Remember Worship and Praise belong to God alone, and when we seek to worship Him and try to find what will personally benefit us while we do that our focus is turned the wrong way. Worship is a matter of our hearts, our hearts must be contrite, but when you come to Him in that state, and you love Him, then you will do what He wants and worry less about what you want.