Wired for Worship, But Still Our Choice

God reveals himself to us through his Word and Spirit in the miracle of revelation. Equally amazing, God created us to respond to him in the miracle of worship. To know and worship God is our destiny. In the Westminster Catechism's stately words, "The chief end of man is to know God and enjoy him forever." Or as songwriter and author Graham Kendrick put it, we are "wired for worship"—cast to reflect God's glory. But unlike the moon or a mirror, which reflect light passively, we mirror God actively in our very lives. And we may choose to mirror God . . . or ourselves.

Jesus gives us the supreme example of a worshipful life. In humble obedience, he consistently chose to glorify God in every moment and action. "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him . . ." (Hebrews 5:8–9) Our salvation reflects Jesus' choice to obey God. And as his Word and Spirit shape us, we likewise assume constant devotion to the Father.

When we choose to glorify God, every moment and task are windows to worship. The apostle Paul urges Christians "to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). Augustine once said a Christian should be a hallelujah from head to toe. Similarly, a Christian's day should be a hallelujah round the clock.

Nor is worship restricted to the sacred acts of the sanctuary. "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus," Paul wrote, "giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17). Paul did not identify certain tasks as more glorifying to God than others. Every task can do it. In the classic movie Chariots of Fire, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell tells his family of his plans to run in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. "Son," his father says, "you can give glory to God by peeling a spud if you peel it to perfection. Don't compromise. Compromise is the devil's language. Run for God, and let the world stand back and wonder." Motivation and purpose determine whether, what, or whom our acts glorify.

Choose a life of worship. Actively reflect God's glory through praise in the obscure moments of our day and the mundane tasks we do.