When Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem, the crowds praised Him, crying out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” The Pharisees, offended by the praise He received, urged Him to quieten His followers. Jesus responded, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). This powerful statement reveals a profound truth; God is so worthy of praise that, if necessary, all creation would testify to His glory.
While we have the privilege and calling to praise God with our voices and lives, our praise is not something God is dependent upon. His worth is infinite, and all of creation bears witness to His power and majesty. He could indeed raise stones to praise Him if humanity were silent. Yet He invites us into this life of thanksgiving and worship, allowing us the joy of glorifying Him.
True worship is worship that emanates from the sincerity of our hearts. It is worship that arises out of a sense of gratitude to God for His love. Only those who are alive in Christ can offer true worship in spirit and in truth. So, in John 4:23-24, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” This statement shows that true worship goes beyond earthly life and physical actions. It is rooted in a spiritual life, a life made possible through Christ.
Without the life of Christ within us, true worship is not possible. We may go through the motions, sing the right songs, or even perform acts of thanksgiving, but without the Holy Spirit’s work within us, our worship shall still lack the authenticity that God desires. Those who do not have the life of Christ cannot worship God “in spirit and in truth.” True worship springs from a heart redeemed by Jesus, a life filled with His Spirit, and a mind transformed by His truth.
In many songs and clichés, we hear believers say, “Only the living will praise You, God; the dead cannot praise You.” This statement reminds us of the unique gift and privilege we have to praise God while alive on this earth. We move, breathe, and work because of God’s sustaining power, and thanksgiving or worship should be our response. The statement, “Only the living will praise You, God…” resonates with many of us because it reflects a sense of urgency to worship God while we are here on earth. As Psalm 115:17 tells us, “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.”However, the statement also sparks questions about what it truly means to be “alive” in God, especially in light of the gospel. Who is the living that can praise God?
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