Romans12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. NIV
I read about a Pastor who banned all forms of music rendition in his church for six months because he wanted to teach his members what worship truly is. We often confuse expressions of worship with true worship. That has made most believers to be superficial worshippers because they perceive worship to be a mood when the music is on. Matt Redmann in his popular song titled "Heart of Worship" said , "I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself Is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear, You're looking into my heart. I'm coming back to the heart of worship,And it's all about You, all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, When it's all about You, all about You, Jesus."
Worship is more than a song because God requires more than a song. Worship is a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. Apostle Paul told us what true and proper worship is in Romans12:1. When we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, he said that is true worship. That is akin to what Jesus in John 4:24 said about worshipping the father in spirit and truth. Worship is about him and for him alone, it is not about us in anyway. When the whole of our lives is submitted to his perfect will, pleasing him in all we do, that is the kind of worship God requires and delights in. Whatever form of worship expression we give to God, it would only become acceptable to God if our lives are in tune with his word.
The story of Cain and Abel comes to mind here. Both of them gave their offerings to God as an expression of their worship. The bible said God had respect unto Abel and his offering. We can say that God accepted the person of Abel first before his offering but the opposite was said about Cain. If you're not a patient reader, you may think that God's rejection of Cain was because of his offering. No, it wasn't. Cain's heart was full of evil and God saw it(Gen4:4-6). God has always had a soft spot for those who are pleasing unto him and that is the core of Paul's admonition in Romans 12:1-2. If worship is all about music, what about those that cannot sing? There must be something more than songs. Your own expression of worship may be offering( like Cain & Abel), song, going on short or long term mission trip, etc. If a pure heart is not in place while doing any of these, they won't be accepted. The expression of worship is not as important as the life of worship.
Father, I receive the grace to be a true worshipper in Jesus name