If there is one word that seems to embody all that we would want to characterize our relationship to God perhaps the word is adoration. One dictionary defines it as “deep love and respect, worship; veneration.”
Let’s expand on that. In thinking of God, I think we could look at adoration in two ways: the first way we could describe as the
- Adoration of his person. These are moments in which we feel overwhelmed by a powerful emotional appreciation for who Jesus is and what he did for us. Frankly, I wish I felt like this all the time, and I am looking forward to the day when that will, in fact, be how I always feel — the day I am at home with the Lord.
The second way we could call
- Adoration as a lifestyle. We could define this as a continual responsiveness to what he came to do for us, that is, walking in the freedom from satan’s lies, the power of sin, and the deceitful desires of the lost world around us. And it’s not only a freedom from something but a freedom to something, to be his friend and coworker in this world.
We can't do much about constantly feeling the adoration of his person, even though we do well to thank and praise and rejoice in the Lord regardless of how we feel. But we can continually walk in the freedom he secured for us through his death. Adoration can be our lifestyle.
