God is a spirit; therefore, we can only worship Him and relate to Him from, and with, our spirits. This means not every living thing can worship Him. Animals don’t have spirits; so, they can’t worship Him in Spirit; only humans can. Someone might argue with this and say, “But the Scripture says, ‘Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD...”’ (Psalm 150:6). Yes, but there’s a difference between praise and worship. Praise requires no consciousness; but worship does.

 

When you praise, you extol His majesty. You may thank and eulogize. However, in worship, much more than extolling Him, there’s a communion; there’s a relationship. It’s a drinking together—a special kind of recognition between the “blesser” and the blessed, the greater and the lesser. The greater one receives the lesser one to His place. This is only possible with humans.

 

That’s why, for instance, we’re not permitted to worship angels. Though they’re great and powerful, God, in Christ Jesus, has raised us to the place of His Son, who’s higher than angels. We’re one with Christ, who’s greater than angels, and we’re therefore higher than angels. This is what the Bible teaches.

 

As He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). We’re joint-heirs with Him: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:16-17 NKJV). This doesn’t make us co-equal with Him, but it describes our inseparable union with Him: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). He’s the head, and we’re His body (Colossians 1:18). We’re in union with the Father. Glory to God!