A Reflection on Sunday’s message:
Worship is spelled O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E
By Barry Pino (August 12, 2007)

Sundays are often looked forward to by every believer, yet we are caught up with the hustle and bustle of the day. “I need to rush, magso-song lead ako.” “I need to rush magtuturo ako.” “I need to rush susunduin ko si Sister.” The rushing never seems to stop. But how many of us are in a rush because we want to WORSHIP the Lord who, after all, deserves all our praises and worship?

Worship is referred to as that time of the service where we sing songs, we clap our hands, we dance with joy, we close our eyes in deep reverence, we wave our hands in delight; when we shed tears of joy when in victory and tears of sorrow in times of despair.

Last Sunday’s sermon gave me a fresh perspective of worship. True worship is a responsibility! As a created being, I am to worship my Creator for His marvelous works. I look back at all the things the Lord has done for me and my worship does not even measure up to the immensity of His blessings. My daily life, my family and the air that I breathe, are blessings bigger than the words I can utter in worship. Even if I sing the highest note and jump the highest heights, I can never measure up to my God’s blessings to me. No wonder the Psalmist said that if I do not worship He will let the rocks sing. For worship after all delights our God.



How often do we worship in reverse? Do we worship because we like the songs, we like the melody, we like the song leader? We like to be fed and not look at the recipient of the worship. We are often caught up in the music instead of the receiver of the music. For after all music touches our emotions and the lyrics may swell our hearts. It is not uncommon that believers look for churches that can give them a ‘high’ in worship. BUT, worship is directed to the Lord and not to us! He should be the one delighted and pleased with the worship you give and not the other way around.

The prophet Jeremiah rebukes us with Jeremiah 7:21-23. How often can we be immersed in the form of our worship? We can completely forget that after the worship, comes the responsibility of obedience. That is of utmost importance to God.

Jeremiah also warns us that we can be swallowed by hypocrisy, showing to one and all that we worship, yet we continue with our ways. Coming to worship means that we accept the Lord’s sovereignty in our lives thus we are then responsible for reforming our ways. Can you imagine the Sunday school teacher cursing after service? Can you imagine the Song leader being mean to her maid after leading us in praise? The responsibility of changing our ways is borne upon our shoulders. Our worship is a 24/7 thing. It is everything that we breathe, do and think of. It is a responsibility with an outward effect: a reformed heart and a spirit after God.



Yes God is delighted by our songs and praises, but he gets more thrilled when a heart is changed into obedience of Him.

Jeremiah reminds us that obedience is non-negotiable. Yet with obedience comes blessing.

Yes, God is gracious. But every time we revert back to our ways we pull away from God and mock the essence of His graces. We insult His sacrifice and laugh at His enduring love for us. In the same way that obedience brings blessings, disobedience in turn, brings consequence.
When we worship, we should acknowledge that He is God. We learn from Him and follow His teaching. That is our responsibility.

When we worship, we should declare that we uphold His word as the direction of our lives and that we will abide by it.

When I do this, I have no other course to take but to change my ways and submit to Him.

That, my dear brothers and sisters, is WORSHIP.


[Barry Pino is the wife of Joey Pino]
[Pastor Edwin preached last Sunday, August 12, 2007.]