Over the years I have made it my practice to read through the entire Bible every year. As I began in Genesis 1:1 again this year I picked up a different translation so that I would not gloss over familiar verses. On the second day a verse stood out to me:

“When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. It was during his lifetime that people first began to worship the LORD.” (Genesis 4:26, NLT)

The first question I asked myself was, what did that look like? And why was it recorded? (Obviously it was important.) It didn’t just have to do with music because earlier in that same chapter we are introduced to “Jubal, the first musician — the inventor of the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:21, NLT).

As I looked in other translations I found a different perspective. In the New American Standard Bible the verse is translated as, “then men began to call upon the Lord.” God had revealed Himself to His people as worthy of worship and they in turn showed their faith by offering the sacrifices that God required. The Old Testament is full of examples of altars being built and sacrifices given. But what does that look like for me?

I picked up my Dictionary and was struck by some of the definitions of worship, “reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; the extravagant respect, or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem” (Webster’s New College Dictionary). True worship is born out of our reverence for who God is and all that He has done for us.

Today I, too, need to call upon the name of the Lord. I need to revere Him, and give Him that extravagant respect that He alone deserves. I love that – extravagant respect! In sunshine and rain, through the good times and the hard, God alone is worthy of my worship and praise.

Is worship your first response in every situation? Or do you come before your Heavenly Father with grumbling and complaining about the injustices you face? I have been admonished in this new year to first of all worship Him, revere Him and give Him that extravagant respect!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you have given me life, not just on this earth, but life eternal and you. You alone are worthy of my praise. I want to give you the extravagant respect that you alone deserve, in the good times and the bad. Help me to always give you that sacrifice of praise first and foremost. Amen.

Go deeper — Is worship part of your daily time with God? If not, start today by giving him that extravagant praise.



Tags: worship Genesis 4