To be true worshipers we must have a revelation of the holiness of God and be in pursuit of holiness in our personal lives. For not only is God holy, he demands holiness from his worshipers. David wrote, Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 ESV) To worship in the splendor (beauty) of holiness could mean to worship decorated in holiness or sacredness.

Many in the church have worshiped the idols of self-gratification such as prosperity, power, popularity and prestige. Others have worshiped the institutional church with its traditions, doctrines and programs of man more than God’s word and his prescribed guidelines for worship. In many churches ritual has taken the place of repentance and righteousness; works have taken the place of true worship.

One meaning of the cross in the life of Jesus was the total abandonment of self to the obedience of the Father’s will. Jesus’ life was centered in the Father’s will (John 5:30). He always did what he saw the Father doing. He always said what he heard from the Father (John 8:28, 38). Jesus came to show the world what the Father is like, and he did it all the way to the cross where he was obedient to death (Philippians 2:8).