"Duty-Bound"

"For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob." (Psalms 81:4) There are some things that we just don't have a choice in, and praising God is one of them. It's not that we actually can put it to a vote, or that we can make it an option; we are called and created to worship, it is part of what we have become and who we are as part of the body of Christ Jesus. In other words, it is a sin for us not to worship; as strong of a word that sin is, it's missing the mark, and when we fail to worship and praise our Creator, we not only miss the mark, we fall flat on our faces. To put it another way, we could use breath again as an illustration of worship; say, breathing in the air of this world is not going to keep us alive, not on it's own; we need to breath in the air of God, and the air of God is given in worship. In other words, if we don't worship, we don't actually breath in healthy air; and if we don't breath in healthy air from time to time, we end up breaking down and becoming weak and sick, spiritually sick. I actually think failing to worship can cause us to become physically ill also. When I am praising God, not just in church, but in my normal day, I feel healthier and more alive. It's almost as if I had taken my vitamins that morning, and I have more energy, more stride in my step. You can call it what you want to, but I will just call it the power of praise. Talk about a 'feast,' it's more like having your favorite sushi and never getting full; yum! On that note, failing to worship is like eating something totally wrong; something that leaves a really bad taste in your mouth, that you can't get out. You might think I am kidding, but it could actually explain why so many Christians walk around looking like they just ate a bug or just smelt a fart. They failed to worship...
"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be condemned. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people, but now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:5-10) KJV