Melting into Worship

Melting into Worship
Words of Faith 3-27-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 34
[8] Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.

How do we respond to the revelation of God's name and character? What is the response when we discover the compassion and grace of the Lord? How do we react when we find the abounding love and faithfulness of the Lord Almighty? What is the reply when we learn of the forgiveness of the Lord toward our sin and rebellion? What is our rejoinder when we encounter the justice of the Lord? Worship.
Worship was the response of Moses. The KJV says that Moses "made haste" to bow down. The Hebrew word means properly "to be liquid or flow easily". Moses flowed into worship. In a sense, Moses melted into worship. The word used here for worship means to prostrate in homage to royalty or God. It means to bow down, crouch or fall down flat.
Worship is an interesting topic to think about. People are often picky about worship. We sometimes feel we need a certain place, a particular type of music, pretty appointments, or certain familiar words and responses in order to worship. Clearly, worship can become too identified with specific art forms and expressions that remind us of something and make us feel the mood of worship.
While these are significant expressions, fundamentally worship is something that happens in response to the revelation of God, not the music or the incense! The discovery of who God is melts us into worship. It is at the revelation of God Almighty not the swell of our favorite chorus that we become liquid and flow into worship.
I have often asked myself the question, "Now how do I 'get into' worship?" How do I begin to worship if I have just rushed into church with a hundred distractions and thoughts on my mind? Will I allow myself to be distracted by self-conscious thoughts, the people around me, an out-of-tune instrument, the temperature of the room, or a spot on the wall? Clearly, this is a focus on the wrong things.
Worship must begin with God. Moses made a simple request of the Lord: "Teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor in Your eyes" (Exodus 33:13). We should not expect the Lord to make some flashy or dramatic revelation. He has already given us His Word. The Word of the Lord is the revelation of God that we need. A discovery and focus upon the Lord Almighty then melts us before Him. Worship is no longer a choice. It is a response. Distractions fade. Issues crumble. Complaints wither. Styles become irrelevant.
Worship is not confined to any one place or time. Moses did not go to a special location. He did not gather a band. He simply melted into worship right where He was. Corporate worship is important and powerful. Private worship is vital.
Hear the Word of the Lord: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, is slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Almighty God, I melt in Your presence. You are the Lord God Almighty. You are my gracious and compassionate God. I bow before You. You are abounding in love and faithfulness. You maintain Your love to a thousand generations. You forgive the wickedness and rebellion and sin of Your people. Yet you do not leave the guilty unpunished. You are just in all ways. I give thanks for who You are. I melt before You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.