Are You Worshipping the Unknown God?
Once you have submitted yourself to Jesus Christ, the journey of your life from that point on will be centered around these main objectives: 1) To know the Lord, 2) To make Him known and 3) To invite Him to know you. It really is that basic, and everything else you walk through in life will fall under those three umbrellas. While it will take the rest of your life to get to know God, many people worship “the unknown God” – a concept about God that exists apart from who He really is.
Many people worship the Lord without knowing who He really is. They love the Lord, but don’t know His character, His nature, His power. It’s one thing to know the Lord through His Word, but it is entirely another things to know the Lord from your first-hand experiences with Him in His presence and both are crucial to a strong faith in the Lord.
The Unknown God is a Ruler without Relationship
In Acts 17, Paul was traveling through Athens and noticed that they were a people who were seeking a spiritual connection by worshipping… everything! And he said to them, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious. For as I passed by and looked up at your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom you therefore unknowingly worship, Him I proclaim to you.”
The men of Athens worshipped the unknown God and were well-intentioned, but spiritually ignorant and as a result, the Unknown God they worshipped was simply added into the mix of their idolatry. Is it possible to worship the Lord without really knowing Him? Yes. The Athenians blended the “Unknown God” into the mix because they didn’t see a difference between Him and the other gods they worshipped. Here’s the difference: The idols of the nations want your reverence, Great King Above All Gods wants your relationship.
God doesn’t give you “more” of Himself- He already gave you free access to everything through His Son. You must give Him more of YOU
~Alicia Purdy
In Matthew 15:8-9 Jesus said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they do worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Plenty of people worship the unknown God. They don’t really know the Lord because they are seeking Him in the wrong places- within themselves, or they are looking to another person, or they can only see God through the eyes of their own opinions, experiences and pain – when God and His power are revealed through His Word.
You Were Created to Praise and Worship a God You Know
Many worship, but without passion, or are stuck in routine and traditions. Or they don’t experience the power of praise because they don’t really understand the point. If you want more of God, if you want to know Him more, if you want fresh passion, deeper understanding and a greater connection His Spirit- go get it!
God doesn’t give you “more” of Himself- He already gave you free access to everything through His Son. You must give Him more of YOU, and as you do, you will find a new revelation of the unknown God whom you worship.
Thought for today: The Unknown God Reveals Himself to the World
Part of your purpose and spiritual responsibility in the Kingdom is to make the Lord known, as Paul did, to reveal who He really is to those stuck in ignorance. But first, you must know who He is and acknowledge what He has done in you, through you and for you. A lifestyle of connecting with God through praise and worship will keep your testimony of Him endlessly powerful to the world.
Do you KNOW who you worship, or are you worshiping the Unknown God too? He wants you to KNOW Him, to have the knowledge that is backed by first-hand experience – that is the true power of praise!
Romans 1:21 says, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God, but became futile in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” If you know who the Lord really is, you have endless reasons to praise. You were never meant to worship the unknown God! If you’re struggling, worship will connect you to the Spirit of God and invite His presence to dwell with you. You’ll get to know the Lord more intimately in the secret place and you’ll get to know Him more and more as you daily invite Him to know you.
Get to Know More About the God Who Longs For You to Know Him: “Are You Still Searching for the King of the Jews?”
Donβt forget to pick up a copy of The Way of the Worshipper on Amazon β and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchase The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional Workbook for deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!
