Traditionally bowing is a way of greeting in East Asia, like in Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. However, there is more in bowing - it is a gesture of respect. I worked in one of the language schools in the Philippines for nearly two years. My bosses were Koreans, Japanese, and Filipinos. As expected my students were foreigners - like Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese… All of them have something in common. It is bowing to greet and as a gesture of respect. Even if it is not my culture, it became part of me. It’s amazing to bow to give respect to someone.
As I reminisce about the past, the word WORSHIP occurred to me because of the word bow. What is worship? I believe that it is the act of reverence and humility recognizing that the One I worship is far greater than me. (Maybe you have your own definition.) The object of our worship is vital to consider. Why? It is because full submission of oneself is part of it. Do we know who we are worshiping? Ask me, the Person behind my act of Worship is God Himself. It is the only worship where dead things become alive. It is the only worship where His presence is expected. Not to mention, it is the only worship where lifestyle is changed.
As we mull about the verse, it leads us to realize that worship is not mere religious rituals that we have to follow, or it is not even founded on it. It is a relationship that leads us to worship. When I was then teaching at the school, I mentioned earlier, whenever my students passed by or saw me they bow. It made more sense to me why we bow because we have a relationship with each other. That’s what we value, and bowing is one gesture of showing it. Other students did too, but I know that is part of the culture, and so they did it. What I am trying to say is that our worship to God is not just an act we present. It is far greater than we could ever imagine. What do I mean by that?
Worship is when God is appreciated not tolerated. Worship is when we make it our business to take and make time to desire more of Him. It is when God in His greatness and awesomeness meets us in His gentleness. What more…
Worship is intimacy with God not counting what we can get from Him. In any relationships, I firmly believe that when there is intimacy, it will grow. On the other hand, if our focus is what we get, then it will surely die sooner or later. The point is, intimacy is intentional - it is a decision we deliberately make.
Lastly, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”The Truth will be all the more revealed to us because we desire for it. And only this time, we can appropriate the Word, and only this time, we can operate in the Name of Jesus.
To end, we are all created for worship. Every day we worship, maybe someone or something. Mind you, it is far more than tradition or culture. Our worship will define everything about us.