Growing Deeper In Worship (11)
Friday 16 January 2026
The First Commandments For Worship (2)
The first commandment that Jesus gave is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment for worship. If you love God, you will develop a heart of obedience to His Word. A true worshipper of God lives in obedience to God and His Word, and honours Him by doing what He says.
1 John 2:3-5 NKJV
“[3] Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. [4] He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
This is not a legalistic way of trying to obey the laws and commandments of God, as the Pharisees and Israelites did under the law. Rather, it is a heart that is willing to surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit, in response to the Word of God.
Remember Jesus told us, “The time has come, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship God in Spirit and in truth.” To love God is to desire, and make every effort, to live in obedience to His word. We must become men and women of the word.
Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
“[38] Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” [41] And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. [42] But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Mary had developed a heart of devotion and obedience, as she sat at Jesus’ feet to hear His word. On the other hand, Martha was very busy with household chores, in her attempt to honour and serve Jesus. However, Jesus told Martha that what was most important, priceless and timeless, was what Mary had chosen – a devotion Him and His word. To be devoted to Jesus Christ is to be actively devoted to the Word of God
John 12:1-3
“1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
Something remarkable had happened to Mary of Bethany! Her love for Jesus had deepened her worship. It began with her attention to His word, and ended with her kneeling and anointing His feet with the most costly oil and wiping them with her hair, which is a very intimate act of worship! (Observe that Martha, on the other hand came in to serve the food, as usual).
As we grow in the word, we grow in the Spirit and our worship moves beyond the natural and physical, to a deep love for God and devotion to Him, which brings us to deeper place of surrender.
It is from this place of heartfelt love for God, which is demonstrated by living in obedience to His word and Holy Spirit, that we become living sacrifices and willingly offer our lives and all to His service.
Romans 12:1 (NASB)
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
© Author: Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson Wallace
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Fulfilling Our Theme For 2026: “BEHOLD JESUS CHRIST”
“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. [13] And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. [14] His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. [15] His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. [16] He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.” [Revelation 1:12-16]
Women In Tune | YWIT | QUIVER | Cedars House Christian (International)
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