 Name: Jeff M. Miller
Location: Aubrey, TX
Age: 36
1. What does worship mean to you?
Like so many others will likely comment, I love the definition of
worship that says "Worship is the human response to who God is, and
what He has done." There's a lot wrapped up in that statement. How do I
respond to an almighty, infinite God? The least I can do is give my
all. This is so much more than music or one hour on Sunday morning. It
means becoming increasingly aware of my every step, and what it means
in relation to Him. I read Brother Lawrence's "Practicing the Presence
of God," and it pretty much blew my mind. What would it mean if I could
consciously keep God in my thoughts 24/7? Add to all this responding to
God's gift of salvation, and the myriad other works He's done in my
life and what I've seen with my owns eyes, and what I've heard with my
ears. How can I do anything less than give my short, little existence
to Him?
2. What causes you to worship?
Maybe I already let the cat out of the bag on this one, but just being
aware of God causes me to worship. He is so BIG and I'm not. Looking
around at creation, especially the stars, causes me to revere Him. All
God's blessings on my life, family, ministry, life itself, cause me to
worship Him. Reading His Word does the same. Every time I read even the
smallest part of the Bible, I'm amazed at this One who has been present
and active all throughout history. The same God who helped Moses lead a
bunch of whiny children through the desert for 40 years is the God who
has promised to come alongside and strengthen me as well.
3. What do you think happens when you worship?
If my (or anyone else's) worship is sincere, I believe God is pleased.
I learned once that the main function of the Old Testament priest was
not so much to stand between God and man as mediator, but to be
ministers to God Himself. "Why does God need to be ministered too?" I
asked. Then I realized He doesn't NEED man's ministry, but He desire it
because it is the proper working of our relationship with Him. When we
worship, the name and glory of God is magnified and proclaimed. This is
really the point of missions, not so much to save mankind from
separation from God, but to bring more and more of mankind into
relationship with God so that there are more and more mouths
proclaiming His name.
4. How can worship be displayed in your life?
I think worship is displayed in the same way the Lord said our love for
Him is displayed. If we love Him (the essence of worship) then we keep
His commandments. This is not a bunch of rules and regulations. I'm not
talking about a legalistic lifestyle, but one the is lived in
submission to Him. If I am displaying a life of worship, it is one more
concerned with pleasing Him than pleasing my fellow man. This might
mean doing somethings that are strange and foreign to those who watch,
but it would never be something contrary to His Word or His nature.
What's the greatest commandment? To love the Lord our God with all our
heart, soul, mind and strength. What's the second greatest commandment?
To love others like I love myself. That's a tall order, but if I don't
exhibit this kind of life then I'm just a mass of noise. I'm still
working on being this kind of person.
5. What's your favourite song/Psalm?
Hah! The song changes nearly every week. Right now, I've had the song
"Saviour King" by Hillsong United in my head and heart. I just can't
get the line "You asked Your Son to carry this. The heavy cross, our
weight of sin." out of my head. It breaks me every time I hear it or
sing it. As for a favorite Psalm, Psalm 51 is the penultimate
expression of confession and repentance in my thinking. I love where
David talks about the Lord not delighting in sacrifices, but rather "a
broken and contrite heart." That's where I need to be in my
relationship with Him.
More about Jeff Miller at his blog Consuming Worship
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That's a great book!