Good morning, and may God bless you throughout this day of worship and praise!
When the Magi found the house where Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus were staying, their first reaction was this: On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11
The phrase telling of their reaction is that they bowed down and worshiped. That phrase in English is from the single word proskuneo in Greek. It identifies a form of worship where the worshipper is so overcome by the worthiness of the One to be worshipped, that they literally “fall, with their faces pressed to the earth”. This act of worship wasn’t thought out or planned by the Magi, it was a natural reaction to the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
In Matthew 4:8-9, the last of the temptations that the devil threw at Jesus in the wilderness, Satan offered: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
The same Greek word, proskuneo, is used, translated: bow down and worship (me). Satan is demanding of Jesus that He fall with His face to the ground, a complete submission, a total recognition of the worthiness of Satan to be worshipped. Jesus said, “no”. His response: Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Matthew 4:10
When God breathed into man his own Spirit and mankind became “eternally living beings”, we were at that moment made special. At that moment we were set apart for a unique relationship with God. At that moment, mankind, out of all of God’s creation, were made aware. Aware of who God is, of God’s glory, of God’s love, of God’s worthinessfor worship.
Our prayer for this Lord’s day is that all who will engage in the worship of our amazing and wonderful God will spiritually proskuneo, bow in deep submission to Him and in absolute recognition of His worthiness and His glory.
Worship today as you were created to do, in reverence and in awe.
Vern