Maybe worship isn’t what we’ve thought. Maybe it’s more than singing and lifting our hands. Maybe, like the Israelites of old, we’ve settled for a shallow counterfeit of the real thing.
God’s people began to settle for the outward rituals of worship that God required, and thought it was enough. They were going through the motions. Are we?
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
I’m reminded of Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1. It’s not a scripture we think of as pertaining to worship. But it does. In it Paul urges believers to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God…and he called that our spiritual service of worship.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
But there’s a part of Paul’s admonition we tend to overlook. Paul didn’t just urge us to present our bodies. He urged us “by the mercies of God” to present them…and that is the key. God’s mercy is our empowerment for making our lives a sacrifice. It’s the enablement to live holy and acceptable unto God. When our minds are set on His great mercy toward us, on His inexhaustible love and amazing grace, it’s easy to present our bodies. It’s easy to worship.
Hi! I’m visiting from Five Minute Friday! Beautiful piece . . . I love the reminder of presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. A great thing to keep in mind as this tired mama can worship throughout my day and glorify Him in everything I do (even while changing diapers.) 🙂
Thanks so much, Katie. With two grown sons (one of which lives near you, in Atlanta …yes, I visited your blog too), I can look back over my life thus far and honestly say that those diaper days and all those nurturing and nesting days, were the most rewarding and satisfying of my life. Serving our children, His children…truly is worship. Do not grow weary. Your work will be rewarded.