Ultimately, for us and all conscious creation, only one response to God will do: receptivity.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.” Acts 17:24-25 (NET)
Clearly, God does not seek our worship, our love, our obedience with an eye on something within himself that needs these things. He is perfectly self-sufficient. Therefore, he seeks out our loving attention strictly because we need it. In his love for us he can offer us nothing better than himself as his highest blessing, and so he calls us — even commands us — to receive all he so longs to give — that is — his very nature of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
That, I suggest, is what worship is. It is to approach the Lord receptive to all he wants to do in us and for us. The more receptive we are the more deeply we are worshiping him. And then out of that comes our service, for now we have received something we can pass on.
