S: Gen 22:1 – 2

“Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”’

O: What is Worship – Worship is ultimately sacrifice. Giving something of worth to someone who is worthy. Meeting kings or queens, we never want to go empty handed and we do not give them any and everything. We select the best things to give. We see this in the story of Cain and Abel. Abel brought something of worth, Cain did not even though his looked nicer. We see this again with the widow’s mite. Many were giving but what the widow gave though lower in value fiscally had greater worth spiritually because it was of worth to her, recognising his worthiness which in itself is worship. Worship is not music. I believe is what Abraham meant when he said in Gen 22:5 (b)  “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”, knowing fully well that God was asking him to sacrifice the thing that he held dearest.  That is the essence of what we should be doing when we say we are worshipping. We have to give of our substance. In music – when it comes to worshipping through song or music, your substance then becomes the choicest part of your gift, your time, the effort to make sure that what you are going to offer up on the altar is the best you have to give. That starts with you and not anybody else. It is not dependent on what anybody else gives but it is ultimately your personal sacrifice. 

A: Can you identify something in your life that you are so attached to that it has taken the place of God as an idol? If so, what steps can you take today to begin to let that thing go so that God can take His rightful place in your life?

P: Father forgive me for the moments when I have not brought my best to the altar. Thank you for the opportunity I always have to begin again. Today I renew my mind and rededicate my heart this moment to worshipping you with my substance I commit to giving you my very best always.