Worshiping the Giver
True worship involves loving God for who He is, beyond our gratitude for His kindness to us.
A.W. Tozer explores the profound mystery of loving God, suggesting that our love for Him often stems from a deep, inexplicable connection facilitated by the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that while gratitude for God's goodness is a valid reason for love, it represents a lower form of worship compared to the love that arises from recognizing God's inherent excellence. Tozer argues that true worship transcends gratitude and moves towards admiration of God's holy nature, enhancing the quality of our worship experience.
Text
In the love which any intelligent creature feels for God there must always be a measure of mystery. It is even possible that it is almost wholly mystery, and that our attempt to find reasons is merely a rationalizing of a love already mysteriously present in the heart as a result of some secret operation of the Spirit within us, "working like a miner, toiling unseen in the depths of the earth? (Fenelon). But so far as reasons can be given, they would seem to be two: gratitude and excellence. To love God because He has been good to us is one of the most reasonable things possible.
The love which arises from the consideration of His kindness to us is valid and altogether acceptable to Him.
It is nevertheless a lower degree of love, being less selfless than that love which springs from an appreciation of what God is in Himself apart from His gifts. Thus the simple love which arises from gratitude, when expressed in any act or conscious utterance, is undoubtedly worship. But the quality of our worship is stepped up as we move away from the thought of what God has done for us and nearer the thought of the excellence of His holy nature. This leads us to admiration.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Worship
- Worship as a mysterious love for God
- 'Reasons for loving God: gratitude and excellence'
Key Quotes
“''It is even possible that it is almost wholly mystery, and that our attempt to find reasons is merely a rationalizing of a love already mysteriously present in the heart as a result of some secret operation of the Spirit within us.''” — A.W. Tozer
“''working like a miner, toiling unseen in the depths of the earth?''” — A.W. Tozer
“''Thus the simple love which arises from gratitude, when expressed in any act or conscious utterance, is undoubtedly worship.''” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should strive to love God for who He is, beyond our gratitude for His kindness to us.
- Our worship is stepped up to admiration when we focus on God's holy nature rather than His gifts.
- Our love for God can be mysteriously present in our hearts as a result of the Spirit's operation.