email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

May 10, 2018

Romans 11:33 - 12:1

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?"
“Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

New International Version (NIV)

   What does the word worship mean? Usage of the word has changed in recent years. Talking about church services I sometimes hear people use the word worship as a synonym for music. As in, “I liked the message but the worship was not good,” or “I love the worship time, but not the message.” As one who loves music in worship, I would never diminish it’s importance. Still, worship must mean more than musical styles and preferences.

                Paul gets to a definition of worship in these verses. First he offers an amazing doxology praising God for his knowledge and his good gifts. Then he invites his readers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God. “This is your true and proper worship,” he writes. What is? Giving our lives back to God. This was written before there were organs or orchestras or electric guitars and pianos. The early Christians sang in worship but they did not define worship by style of music.

                If we compartmentalize life and confine worship to a segment of time each week, we miss the point. When we live lives of worship and our whole lives become an offering to God, he is greatly glorified and we will be greatly satisfied. So worship involves praying and playing music and singing and preaching and giving. Whatever we do in word or deed, we should do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

                William Temple defined it with these powerful words: “Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose--all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.”

Pray with me:

Father teach us to worship you with our whole lives. Forgive us for compartmentalizing life and failing to see that every moment of our lives is an opportunity to love you and serve you. Would you teach us to worship you in Spirit and in truth? We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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