On two different occasions – the first time in 1952 and again in the mid-1960’s – I saw what is called an Unidentified Flying Object. On both occasions the UFO moved around in the sky in ways and at speeds that no government on planet earth – then or now – could possibly duplicate. Can you imagine the amazement you would have if a UFO landed in your church parking lot next Sunday, and space aliens from a planet somewhere out in the vast universe came inside your church and saw you and your fellow church members kneeling, standing or bowing in prayer, talking to Someone they could not see? What would they think?
I suspect that these outer space tourists would be impressed if you told them that it is in the mysterious action we call worship that we make contact with the Creator of everything that exists in the billions of galaxies throughout our immense universe, and that He is the Father and Sustainer of our spirits also.
So, the question arises, “What is worship?” An American named Dwight Bradley gave this answer:
“It is the soul searching for its counterpart.
“It is a thirsty land crying out for rain.
“It is a drop of water in quest of the ocean.
“It is a candle in the act of being kindled.
“It is a man listening through a tornado for the Still Small Voice.
“It is a voice in the night calling for help.
“It is a sheep lost in the wilderness pleading for rescue by the Good Shepherd.
“It is the same sheep nestling in the arms of its Rescuer.
“It is the Prodigal Son running to his Father.
“It is a soul standing in awe before the mystery of the Universe.
“It is a poet enthralled by the beauty of the Universe.
“It is a hungry heart seeking for love.
“It is time flowing into Eternity.
“It is my little self being engulfed in the Universal Self.
“It is a man climbing the altar stairs to God.”
In addition to these words by Dwight Bradley worship is our response to what God has done and is still doing within and through us as we serve Him. This is illustrated by the beautiful story of a little girl who, after finishing her bedtime prayers, looked up and said, “And now, Lord, is there anything I can do for you?”
Centuries ago a psalmist gave one of life’s most important invitations concerning worship: “O come, let us bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:6-7). It would be hard to define worship any better than that.
The Paper Pulpit 
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