Memory Verse Day 23: How to Worship 101

Here’s one thing I’ve noticed lately.  We love to grab verses like this, and pull them out, and use them all by themselves.

I’m especially talking about commands.  There are lots of them in the Bible, and of course in the Great Commission (remember Day 19?) Jesus says we should make disciples and teach them to observe all things that He commanded.

So the commands of God are good and righteous.  But for us today, they come in the context – of the Gospel.

And no one can blame Paul in Romans 12:1 of forgetting to mention the Gospel.  He starts his book with the Gospel (Romans 1:1-7 and so on).  He explains God’s commands, and how we have all fallen short (yeah, Day 9).

He’s gone on to explain God’s solution – faith in the Saviour (for example Day 11).

In fact, look at what Paul says right before he gets to Romans 12:1:

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever.
Amen.

(Romans 11:32-36)

So before we start throwing out commands to people, let’s get some perspective.  That perspective is God – His power – his love in Christ, and forgiveness.  That all comes first, before we do anything.

And so Paul begins chapter 12 with a therefore.  And a by the mercies of God.

And then Paul begins to show us how to live for God all the way to Romans 15 (where he begins to share some personal greetings and news), ending with May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

Our lives become our worship – not just because God is God and He deserves worship because He’s God.  But also because He has united us with His Son, and has forgiven us and given us new life.

I’m not sure when "worship" started being music on Sunday mornings.  Sure, singing together is an important part of worship, but you don’t need to sing to worship God.

And, of course, you can sing or listen to "worship music" without really worshipping.

We worship God – brace yourself – with our bodies.  With all of our lives.  We can do this and be acceptable to God because we’re righteous in Jesus Christ.  We’re already holy.

But we also choose to be holy in our daily lives.  We become more and more holy as God transforms us.

And that’s what the following verses are about.  People who are accepted by God in Christ are learning to become more like Christ daily – specifically by how we use our bodies.  And that is our spiritual worship.