Eastertide
April 8, 2016

Scripture Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.
–Revelation 5:13-14

What do we mean when we say we “Go to worship” or “attend worship”? We have made a noun out of a verb form although the word used is the same. The synonyms for worship are venerate and adore.

Veneration is a feeling of respect mingled with awe excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecrated state, or by hallowed association*. Veneration is a noun formed from the verb to venerate.

Adoration is worship given to God alone**. Adoration is a noun formed from the verb to adore.

The Greek word used here in Revelation literally means to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior***. The Greek word is a verb.

So what difference does it make whether we perceive worship as a noun or a verb? While our cultural customs may differ from those practiced in the first century, the example here from Revelation is a description of action not of a person, place, or thing as we learned a noun was in elementary school. Worship of God is our intentional recognition of God as the core of our faith, the one and only core of our faith to which we extend our reverence not only in praise and adoration from the depths of our souls but also in the dedication of every aspect of our lives to service that honors God.

Prayer: Lord, we bow our heads, lift up our arms, close our eyes, sing, dance, pray to let you know how much you mean to us. Let our praise of you be a source of energy for our service to you. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/veneration
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Adoration
***http://biblehub.com/greek/4352.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.