BILL’S BLOG ENTRY #51

From “Discipleship and Discipline” by William H. Hicks, copyright March, 2005:

““THE DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP

The English word “worship” was spelled originally, “worthship”, acknowledging the worth, the worthiness of the object of one’s adoration and praise. There is herein the clear connotation that God is worthy to be worshipped; but what is worship? How does one do it? Worship is giving to the object of worship praise, adoration, thanks, honor and allegiance. It is acknowledging the majesty and lordship of God, His power and His lovingkindness towards the worshipper, the debt owed to Him for His kind affection towards the worshipper. A disciple recognizes that God is worthy of worship and he seeks to be one of those who worship God in spirit and in truth.

But wait; is not this same object of worship “seeking” worshipers? This greek word for seeking is likened to the way a leopard in the wild that hasn’t eaten for five days stalks his prey. It is a hungering, single-minded, concentrated, indefatigable, never-say-die, never give up focus that will end in the acquiring of the object of one’s seeking. Thus, we observe that God is actively seeking for worshipers who will truthly worship Him- in spirit and in truth. God is seeking those whose hearts yearn for Him and who understand that the truest form of worship is to put His Word into practice in their daily lives (“when neither in this mountain or in Jerusalem… but in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth.”). True disciples, disciples in actual fact, are those whose seeking after the Truth results in the truth being manifested in the way they walk- their lifestyles- which comes only by doing what their Teacher teaches: “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments (My Word).””

About THE DISCIPLE

William H. “Bill” Hicks is a graduate of Wesleyan University, BA, Religion, 1971 who also holds a Masters in Public Health Degree (MPH) from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health (1973). Bill also has studied at the Dallas Theological Seminary. He grew up in Harlem, New York City, USA during the 1950s and 1960s, graduating from high school before attending Mount Hermon Preparatory School and undergraduate school in Connecticut. He has spent most of his professional life in the public health arena, while being constantly in ministry. He received his license to preach the Gospel at Oklahoma City, OK in 1971. He has written extensively on Christian topics. He enjoys life in Chattanooga, TN with former District Public Defender Ardena Garth Hicks, his wife of 30 years. They have two daughters, Rachel (BA, University of Memphis magna cum laude, 2014) and Sarah (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, Global Scholar, University of Tulsa, 2017).

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