Aptitude has to do with readiness to learn or the acquired capacity for something; in this case, worship. What is your worship aptitude? Are you hungry to learn more and more about worship from God's word and letting his Word guide your experience, growing in those experiences of worship? In Deut. 6:4-5, we are given the great commandment and Jesus repeats it in Mark 12:30-31. " . . . You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." This is foundational to the study of worship.
The Old Testament is full of instruction and hundreds of verses having to do with worship. The Hebrew word meaning "worship" is translated literally "to bow down". The worshipper "knows" the Lord and "trusts" the Lord. The worshipper "seeks" the Lord and His presence. The worshiper "waits" for the Lord and "intercedes" with the Lord. All of these are Old Testament worship concepts to be acquired or learned and only a few of hundreds.
Like the Old Testament, the New Testament contains many terms and concepts that refer to acts and different features of worship. In a different cultural setting the New Testament writers develop a magnificent vision of the worship of Father and Son. Jesus Christ, in His appearance as the incarnate Word of God, displayed a personal presence and power that moved people to an awe filled worshipful experience. Many references to Old Testament worship are brought to bear in the light of Jesus Christ. Even though there is less material in the New Testament, there are still hundreds of verses having to do with terms, actions, and understanding of worship. Knowing God's Word and knowing the incarnate Word in Jesus Christ will bring us to worship renewal in our lives. Do we have a hunger to know Him? Do we have a deep desire to learn how to worship Him? Are we growing in our knowing and understanding worship? It will be our heavenly, eternal occupation. Let's get with it! mjm
