What is your concept of worship? Is it confined to merely Sunday morning activity? This Sunday offers us a way to look beyond this day of the week to all of our activity from one Sunday to the next. This idea is brought out in the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1
Paul lays down for us the fact that everything we do for God's glory can be considered our worship. He says here to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The reference to our physical nature ought to make us pause and consider how much we do take care of our ourselves. The reason is simply this: The better physical shape you are in, the better you can offer yourself as a "sacrifice" to God.
For instance, imagine if you don't get your proper sleep. Maybe you stay up watching TV late into the night and you wake up the next day feeling tired. You may not be motivated to serve someone else or you may not be able to make high quality godly decisions that are so important for yourself as a person of faith.
Then, Paul continues in this letter:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
In offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, we need first to get it right with our minds. We need to focus on what God would desire of us in order to lead a holy life. There are so many temptations to conform to what this world offers - the carrot stick resides in so many places. However, will you be different? Will you stick out from the crowd. Will you be a God-pleaser?
I invite you to reflect on these words from Romans in preparation for Sunday's worship.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
Is there some area of your health that needs attention- like exercise, sleep, or nutrition, that would give you more energy to be in service to your Lord?
Look at what has been attractive to you from our culture that goes counter to God's ways?
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1
Paul lays down for us the fact that everything we do for God's glory can be considered our worship. He says here to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The reference to our physical nature ought to make us pause and consider how much we do take care of our ourselves. The reason is simply this: The better physical shape you are in, the better you can offer yourself as a "sacrifice" to God.
For instance, imagine if you don't get your proper sleep. Maybe you stay up watching TV late into the night and you wake up the next day feeling tired. You may not be motivated to serve someone else or you may not be able to make high quality godly decisions that are so important for yourself as a person of faith.
Then, Paul continues in this letter:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
In offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, we need first to get it right with our minds. We need to focus on what God would desire of us in order to lead a holy life. There are so many temptations to conform to what this world offers - the carrot stick resides in so many places. However, will you be different? Will you stick out from the crowd. Will you be a God-pleaser?
I invite you to reflect on these words from Romans in preparation for Sunday's worship.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
Is there some area of your health that needs attention- like exercise, sleep, or nutrition, that would give you more energy to be in service to your Lord?
Look at what has been attractive to you from our culture that goes counter to God's ways?
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