DAILY ACT OF WORSHIP

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead
with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be
a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept.

When you think of what he has done for you,
is this too much to ask?”
Romans 12:1
(New Living Translation)

After Paul describes man’s fallen state and God’s great mercy in the beginning chapters of the book of Romans, he begins chapter twelve by urging the believers to present their lives to God as an act of worship. In light of all God had done, offering Him a living, holy sacrifice would be the only reasonable, logical response.
First, he urges us to offer our bodies to God. In the Old Testament, the people offered animal sacrifices to God as acts of worship. But, the animal sacrifices were only a shadow of the finished work of Christ on the Christ. At Calvary, Jesus acted as the one offering the sacrifice, the victim and priest. The work of the cross provides those that believe in Christ new life. This new life is the only thing that can be offered as an acceptable sacrifice to God. By accepting the work of Christ on the cross, the old life is gone and the new life has come. Since we have been given this new life, we should daily offer our bodies to Him as an act of worship. Christ’s work on the cross was once and for all. Our act of presenting our bodies to Him is a daily, ongoing act of worship. Secondly, he gives the guidelines for the sacrifice. What is offered to God must be living, holy and acceptable to God’s standards.
What does all this mean? It means that worship is more than singing songs on Sunday. True, acceptable worship is done daily by living every aspect of your life in light of what God has done for you by His grace. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” How our world would be transformed if every aspect of our life was done as an act of worship to God! Imagine marital relationships if both treated one another as if an offering to God. Imagine how our work place would be transformed if our job performance was done as an act of worship to God and not just for a paycheck or a pat on the back. Imagine our churches full of people actually serving in ministry simply because of what God has already done and provided. Imagine that!
As you consider all that God has done for you, is it really too much to ask to offer Him your life on a daily basis? Consider it and realize, it is just your reasonable service.