October 23, 2023 | Be On Mission
Our Spiritual Act of Worship
Scripture: Romans 12(NIV)
1 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. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Devotional
What is worship? We tend to think of it as an event that takes place once a week in a church building. And, when we’re honest, we often view it through the lens of ourselves. We say things like this:
“The music was so inspirational today.”
“I got a lot out of the pastor’s message.”
“The time of offering is so awkward. I give online and don’t know what to do when the offering is passed.”
“I enjoyed communion. But I liked it better when we used to do it the old way.”
“The worship didn’t speak to me today.”
To that last comment, I heard of one pastor who said to his parishioner, “The worship wasn’t intended to speak to you today. It was intended to speak to God.”
Today’s passage reminds us that our true and proper worship is all about giving honor and praise to God. We offer our bodies in sacrifice, in order to be holy and pleasing to God. We submit our minds to be transformed, so that we can fulfill God’s pleasing and perfect will. We fully utilize the spiritual gifts given to us, so as to live with humility for self and faith in God. We love, serve, share, and forgive because that is how God has treated us.
Rather than seeing worship as a weekly event, how about approaching it as a way of life? Take time right now to worship the Lord God. Praise Him for who He is. Thank Him for what He has done. Offer to Him your thoughts, words, and actions as an act of adoration. Worship the Lord!
Poem
Chore List
My mother had a list of chores
The duties of the day
Each was to be accomplished ‘fore
We went outside to play
Our beds were made, our bodies cleaned
The table set, then cleared
The garden weeded as a team
The laundry hung to air
The horse stalls needed mucking out
The animals were fed
The dusting and the ironing
Then baking--cookies, bread
Each chore we knew was helping
Our household to run smooth
Each chore, without complaining
Each done with cheerful mood
We also had a list of chores
Our rule of life each day
Begin the day with breakfast prayer
Good temperament display
Respect each other’s property
Help out when others struggle
Play hymns upon the baby grand
Don’t ever get in trouble
Devote yourself to church and school
Sing in the children’s choir
Allowance tithe you set aside
Pray prayers as you retire
Take sermon notes while list’ning well
God’s message strong and true
Forgive each other gen’rously
And give to God his due
