Luke 2:36-38
Hannah was up at the crack of dawn for some reason, so my devotional time was shared. As she sat and slurped her KIX cereal, I tried to read my Bible in several places. When she finished eating, she climbed onto my lap and said, "Daddy, read me the Jesus part." "Which Jesus part?" "When he was born," she replied. So, to Luke 2 we went, reading the "Christmas story."
Verse 37 says something pertinent for our discussion about worship. One of the words we have studied that is translated worship in the New Testament, is latrueo. That is the word for service to the Lord. It is worshiping the Lord by serving the Lord. It's not the word for serving others because of the Lord; latrueo is specifically service unto the Lord as an act of worship.
Anna the prophetess, so says verse 37, was busy worshiping the Lord with prayer and fasting night and day.
Making all of life an act of worship is more than just a mindset. Another Greek word translated worship in the New Testament is proskuneo, which means 'to kiss towards.' You know, presenting yourself before the King whose hand is extended for you bow down and kiss it. Worship is, on one hand, the constant reminder of humility before our awesome King (proskuneo). But that's not all--it is also service unto our King (latrueo).
Ana lived a life of worship (night and day it says) by serving the Lord with fasting and prayer. She was an old woman who never left the temple. Granted, few of us if any have that luxury. But, she does leave us an example of a worshiping life. I wonder, what acts of worship-service might I begin to regularly practice? Might I be able to fast a meal once a week and give that time to prayer and meditation? Might I be more disciplined to protect my appointments with God, prioritizing these times which allow me to personally serve Him? Might I be more apt to make these designated times of prayer less about me and even less about others and more about God (latrueo) realizing that He does not exist for me but that I exist for Him?
How might you do the same? I would appreciate your ideas--I'm not too creative. How would you employ more of a worshiping life in light of the example of Ana the prophetess?
