The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines worship as “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.” Indeed, we human beings are tempted to worship the people or things we respect or have deep reverence for. While there are many things that we may be tempted to worship here on Earth, there is only One who is worthy of our full attention, affection, and worship, and that is God.
The apostle Paul calls us to be people who worship God alone in Romans 12. Then Paul re-defined what it means to worship. You see, most people view worship as an activity, but Paul explained that worship is more than an activity. It is a lifestyle. In this passage of Scripture, Paul wrote, “I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable” (verse 1). Worship is not just an act we do; it is a way of living that Paul calls Christ followers to adopt. We worship God through our lifestyles by living for Him and sacrificing everything to follow Him. When we live this way, Scripture teaches us that our sacrificial lifestyle of worship is found acceptable to Him.
When it comes to your life, do you treat worship as an activity that you participate in or view it as a daily lifestyle of sacrificing yourself to honor God? Every moment, large or small, is an opportunity to worship Him through our sacrifice and praise. Will you commit to living your entire life as a living sacrifice to praise, worship, and honor the God whom you deeply love?
Take out a notecard or a journal and write out Romans 12:1. Then, write out a list of at least five ways that you can live your life as a living sacrifice. Be specific in each of the ways that you write down. When you are finished, pray. Ask God to help you as you seek to live this day and every day as a living sacrifice so that you can honor Him in everything you say and do and point the watching world to Christ.
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
