July 11 – Reading 192

july 11 – Reading 192

by John Christian Pra | July 11

“BECOMING WHAT YOU WORSHIP”
(2 Kings 17:1-41; 1 Chronicles 5:25-26; Psalm 99:1-9; 106:1-48)

“They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them.”– 2 Kings 17:15

You become what you worship. Now that may sound easy. Just worship God and everything should be good, right? In theory, yes, but our worship is constantly contested. We often think of worship as a time of singing to God that takes place in our gatherings as a church. Biblically speaking, worship is a lifestyle of pursuit that seeks to live for and become like something or someone. It’s the act of putting our attention in a specific place to receive our guidance. What we worship is ultimately what leads us in our lives. 

Most of us like to believe that God is the only thing we worship, but often times He is simply a part of what we worship. Like the Israelites, we are often mixing our worship (2 Kings 17:33). The issue is this: God doesn’t do well only receiving a part of our worship. He isn’t interested in some of us. He desires all of who we are. All of our worship. Because Jesus knows the power of worship and how it will shape who we are as people. 

What you worship will determine who you are. The Israelites worshipped false idols and God says they themselves became “false” which literally means worthless. They worshipped worthless things and became worthless themselves. 1 Peter 1:18 says that through Jesus, we are delivered from these worthless, empty ways of living. 

Today, examine your worship and ask Jesus to reveal if there is anything that is hindering your complete, wholehearted worship of Him.

Reflections:

• How do you think of worship? How does today’s devotional change your understanding of worship?
• Why is what we worship so important to Jesus?

Application: 

• Audit your worship – what are the things in your life that you seek after? Fame, notoriety, success, money? What is shaping your soul?
• Write down a one-sentence statement of who you desire to become in Jesus. Let this be the motivation to seek Jesus wholeheartedly and give all your worship to Him. 

Closing Prayer…
Jesus, thank you for revealing today that what I set my attention on will determine who I become. Forgive me for seeking and worshipping lesser things. Deliver me from a worthless, empty life chasing things that could never satisfy me. Change my direction and desire as I seek your face today. I pray that as I worship you above all else, I would become more like you. This is my destiny and the call you have for my life. I pray this all in your beautiful Name. Amen.