Love and Worship

Because of Valentine’s Day most people think about “love” during the month of February.  It is interesting that the word “love” has a synonym for it and that word is "worship".  Here's what God’s Word says about the connection of love and worship.  In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah said, “Foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to your covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

All people are acceptable to God.  Their acceptance is based on service, love and worship of the Lord, respect for the Sabbath, and adherence to the teachings of God’s Word.  Among other things this suggests that if we are to worship God we must also love Him.  Jesus reminded his hearers that the greatest commandment was to: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).

All of these verses seem to imply that love is crucial and when it is directed towards God worship should also be included.  A suggestion or challenge for you and me during the month of February is to take time to evaluate our lives and action.  Do we love both people and God?  You might ask yourself, “What have I done to show my love for others?  What have I done to express my love for God?”  You might also ask, “Has my love for God included worship?”  Maybe when we worship God, whether in the privacy of our own home or in a gathered assembly, our thoughts should be focused on both love and worship.