I worship when...

He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel. (Ezra 7:9-10 NLT)
Notice the order of things in this passage.  It says that the gracious hand of God was on Ezra.  Then it tells us why.  Read the italicized sentence above again.  Ezra studied the Law of the LORD.  Ezra obeyed the Law of the LORD.  Ezra taught others to follow the Law of the LORD.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and look, there's a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5 HCSB)
When we worship, we don’t try to fix people, outdo people, or show them up.  When we worship, we draw near to God.  We walk with God.  Then, when we see what a beautiful walk it is, we help others do the same.  This is what leadership looks like in God’s Church.  This is worship.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV)
How about you?  Do you walk with God?  Is the gracious hand of the LORD upon you as a result?  Do you experience the benefits and blessings that come from walking together with God?  Do you help others do the same?  Do you worship?

I worship with others…

Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. (Ezra 7:7-8 NLT)

There really is strength in numbers.  In the days of Ezra, the people who returned to Jerusalem were the remnant (remaining people) of Israel.  They were returning, “hat in hand” so to speak, with humility before the LORD.  After years of defiance, they were ready to return, ask for forgiveness, and worship.  This made their sacrifices acceptable to God in their day.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV)

When we come to God in humility and receive forgiveness through Jesus, we are ready to worship as well.  Worship takes place when we allow God to build us up together as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood.  Our worship is strengthened and God’s Glory is magnified with every person we are connected to in worship.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV84)

How about you?  Do you worship with others?

I worship the LORD…

This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. (Ezra 7:6a NLT)

Worship often times makes little or no sense to outsiders.  They will often scratch their heads because we speak, sing praises, or give credit to a God whom they cannot see.  Many times, our worship will be boiled down in their minds to pious acts of righteousness.  They think that worship is about living up to a set of rules, like the Law of Moses.

He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him. (Ezra 7:6b NLT)

What they don’t see is that there is more to worship than following a set of rules.  To be sure, the Law of Moses was given to us by the LORD.  Breaking the Law brings punishment and following the Law brings blessings.  What they don’t see, though, is that the Law was given to us as a gift from a loving God.  When we worship, we are not trying to be a “good person.”  We are drawing near to the person of God.

Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus *said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matt. 4:8-11 NASB)

How about you?  Do you sometimes confuse worship with the following of rules?  Do you try to worship by being a good person?  Or, do you see the LORD as the only God who deserves your worship?  Do you want to draw near to God?  Do you worship the LORD?

I worship…

Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. (Ezra 7:1 NLT)

Ever since the days of Moses, the Israelites had a system in place that helped them to draw near to the LORD.  They were terrified to come face to face with the living God because every time they approached God in sin, they got struck down.  So, an animal-sacrifice system was given to them so they would approach God with humility and an attitude of repentance.

He was the son of Seraiah...son of Aaron the high priest. (Ezra 7:2-5 NLT)

Priests had a special role in all of this.  Their job was to administer the animal sacrifice system.  A person would bring in an animal as a sin offering to the LORD.  The priest would slaughter the animal, carve it up in the specified way, pour out and sprinkle the blood on the altar, and then burn up the animal parts on the altar.  Priests helped people draw near to God.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6 ESV)

The same is true of us today.  When we realize that Jesus is the final sacrifice who has freed us from the punishment we deserve for our sin, we can approach the LORD without fear.  God forgives us and reconciles with us because we approach with humility, repentance, and carrying the blood of the lamb (Jesus).  Then, since we know how to approach God with the sacrifice of Jesus, the LORD makes us “priests” to help others draw near to God as well.  This is a spiritual act of worship.

How about you?  Have you learned how to approach the LORD in repentance with humility?  Do you approach with the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) taking the punishment for your sin?  Do you help others draw near to God like a priest did back in Ezra’s day?  Do you worship?

Worship

What do you think about when I say the word, “Worship?”  Do you think about the music, moving heart and soul?  Perhaps you think about a time of great spirit-filled expression of love and devotion to God.  Maybe you think about a quiet time with your Bible, your journal, and prayer.  Whatever you think about, it probably includes some kind of celebration, like the remnant of Israel.

Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the LORD had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel. (Ezra 6:22 NLT)

The LORD had helped the remnant of Israel rebuild the Temple of the LORD, even while in captivity.  Now, they are celebrating what the LORD has done in and through them in their lifetime.  We can celebrate what the LORD has done in and through us as well.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV84)

When we worship the LORD, people see it.  Our actions reflect our adoration of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  They don’t need us to tell them Who is most important in our lives.  They can tell just by watching and listening to us.  Our lives are spiritual acts of worship.

How about you?  Do people see something different in you?  Do they recognize Who you are following by what you say and what you do?  Is your body a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God?  Do you worship?