The Book Of Mysteries: 14-Day DevotionalShembull

Kissing God

There was a gathering in the school's open-air tent. It was a time of worship and praise. We were just outside the tent listening.
"What do you think of," asked the teacher, "when you hear the word worship?"
"Singing, hymns, prayers, words of praise..."
"That's the outward form of worship," he said. "That's how worship manifests. But what's the heart of worship?"
"I don't know."
"I'll give you one definition, a secret. It's found in the New Covenant Scriptures. It only appears in the Greek. It's the word proskuneo. And do you know what it means?"
I had no answer.
"It means to kiss. True worship," said the teacher, "is to kiss. And what does this reveal? What is a kiss? A kiss is the most intimate of acts. Therefore, worship is to be the most intimate thing you can experience."
"To worship God is to kiss God?"
"In the spiritual realm, yes, to kiss from your heart, from your innermost being. And when you kiss, you don't do it because you have to. You do it freely from your heart because you want to."
"So true worship is never done by compulsion, but freely from the overflow of your heart."
"And why does one kiss?" asked the teacher.
"Because of joy."
"Yes," he said, "a kiss is an expression of joy. And kissing brings you joy. So true worship is an expression of joy. You worship out of joy. Your joy becomes worship and your worship becomes joy."
"Teacher," I said, "we didn't say the most obvious."
"Which is...?"
"One kisses because of love," I said. "A kiss is an expression of love."
"It is. So then what is true worship?"
"Worship is an expression of love."
"Yes," said the teacher, "It's as simple as that: It's the most intimate act of love and joy. Worship is as simple as kissing God."

The Mission: Today, draw near to God in worship, in love, in joy, in the deepest of intimacy. Learn the secret of kissing God.