'Non-transactional' Worship

John 12:20 (NKJV)

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.

A question that can be really frustrating to hear (although I’m guilty of asking it) is, ‘How did you find the worship?’ There are often good intentions behind the question and, as an aside, it's right that we review the ways we worship to ensure we don't get distracted but stay focussed on Jesus. However, my frustration with this question is that it highlights the experience of the worshipper and not the exaltation of the God we’re worshipping.

The passage is set within the Passover festival shortly before Jesus’ arrest and the worship described is the gathering to eat the Passover meal, to remember God’s faithfulness to his people. It is likely that these Greeks were not Jewish, and therefore they would not have been eligible to partake in the feast. So, why were they there? They couldn’t even join in and receive and yet John tells us they went there to worship.

We have the fantastic privilege of worshipping a relational God who wants to meet with us and praise him. None of us is excluded; the Holy Spirit is available to everyone regardless of background. But sometimes it feels like we approach times of worship as a 'transaction'; we show up and the Holy Spirit is there to make us feel good. But what if when we came to worship, we sang and prayed, danced and proclaimed without expectation of 'right' of return? What if our only intention is to worship God wholeheartedly for the sole purpose of glorifying his name and attempting to give him the praise he deserves?

With this as our priority, our praise becomes more Christ-centred and less me-centred. Our hearts become thankful that, even though he doesn’t need to, God graciously chooses to meet with us.

Prayer — Father, I want to praise you not because of what I can receive but simply because you deserve it. You are worthy of it all.