“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:2-3)

When the Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Jerusalem, David called the priests to give praise to God. Therefore, their praise proclaimed, “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.” (1 Chronicles 16:23-25) Now with God’s presence they were to praise Him day after day. Every day was to be a time to worship and praise the Lord.

When Satan tempted Jesus, he took “him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4:8-9) In response to this temptation, Jesus announced, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10) Through this response of Jesus, we are to learn that our lives are to be lives of worship and service to our Lord God. If that is the case, and it is, then our time to worship is everyday praising Him day after day.

The Psalmist gives some directions in our daily worship of our Lord God. “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:2) Peter would use David’s acknowledgement of the Promised One, when he told the crowd at Pentecost, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. . ..You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” (Acts 2:25-26, 28 ESV) With all that God has done for us, we are to be filled with gladness as we approach Him in worship and praise. This is expressed in the songs of our heart and voice.

We continue our daily worship because we know who we are in relationship with God. “It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3) We have been created by Him and now, through Jesus, we have been recreated in Him, as we are His own. We can worship and praise Him because he cares for us as shepherd for his sheep. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

When we daily come to Him in worship, it is to be filled with praise and gratitude. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5) When we wonder, what is the time for worship? In view of God’s coming to us and extending to us a new life given to us by Jesus Christ, our time to worship is today. Today in the light of the fact it is a gift of God. We are able to worship Him every day because of His love given to us through Jesus Christ, who has come to give us an everyday for all eternity. Where we will worship Him and experience all He has prepared for us forevermore.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block