Going Deeper
Daily Worship (10-17-20)
As we consider God’s word, and how it directs us to worship God daily, we must first see that everything we interact with or do in this life is an opportunity for worship. Pay attention to these quotes:
“Worship is the act of ascribing ultimate value to something in such a way that it engages the entire being; mind, will, and emotions.” (Timothy Keller)
“Worship is never a step on our way up to any other experience. It is not a door through which we pass to get anywhere. It is the end point; the goal.” (John Piper)
We are made to worship! Romans 1 tells us that, in our sin, we don’t worship nothing, we worship anything. We stop worshipping the Creator and start worshipping the creation. We all worship something!
The difference is: In Christ, our lives are all about the glory and exultation of the holy God. He is worthy of all of our lives.
Daily worship is about worshipping God every day and, even better, throughout your day. This is giving God the first fruits of your day. The principle of firstfruits is to give the Lord the first of what He has entrusted to you. So, we give God a portion of the first income of the month, or paycheck, and we give Him the first hours of our week with Sunday worship and we give Him the best time of our day to pray, read His word, and worship with our family.
What are ways that you prioritize having a focused time of enjoying and worshipping God?
For many, there is a deep love for God, but not a real discipline, or daily practice, that prioritizes time with God. It doesn’t have to necessarily be the first thing you do, but it shouldn’t be something you do only “if” you have time. It should be a prioritized thing you do. This means you set aside, or schedule real time, to get alone with God and read His word, pray, and worship Him. Jesus modeled this practice throughout His three years of ministry. “… Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)
Again, what do you need to do to begin to prioritize time with the Lord every day?
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper)
Our hearts are only ever satisfied with God. His “stuff” is just a means to point to Him. This is critical to understand as we dig into Romans 12. Let’s turn there.
Romans 12:1a I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God
What mercies? The scriptures teach us that we are without life and hope without God sending His only son to take our spiritual death upon Him so we can be born again into eternal life and hope in Christ—the undeserved grace we are given that brings new life are the mercies!
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
This is one of the most famous passages in Scripture that talks about a life that worships God. We are to be living sacrifices holy and honorable to our Lord. Our lives are His. He has bought us with a high price and so it is our privilege to live our days for His glory and fame.
The question is: How do we have a life that daily worships God?
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We must understand that the core of who we are must change. The inside-out of you must change—not just our actions.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind …
It says, “… be transformed …” There is a transformation that can, and does, take place, and it changes not just what you do but the way you think about everything.
What could be so transforming that it completely changes the way I think about life? Answers: The gospel! Grace! JESUS who is life, a deeper satisfaction.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me …
Said another way, “In light of ‘God’s grace’ …” What does Paul mean to highlight here when he says grace?
It is the grace of God at work in the gospel! It is the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It is THE GOOD NEWS that trumps all other good news because it is impossible to top the fact that even though you and I were blatant enemies of God, having fled from relationship with Him to pursue our own glory and worship His creation more than Him—even though we abandoned Him and ran the other way, in His amazing grace—He pursued us by putting on flesh and then dying an undeserved death to take on our sin for which we should die and eternally suffer. And then, He conquered death after three days in the grave to rise to new life.
As a result, the announcement that shakes our very existence at its core is that anyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and SAVIOR, is forgiven and made a new creation to live in a restored relationship with God almighty who is joy, love, life, peace, and power. This is the gospel!
It is where Christ’s innocent blood was shed to take on our sin so that we would be forgiven! Many have said, “It doesn’t seem fair that a wicked, guilty person would receive such mercy.” That’s why it’s called grace!
Grace is an undeserved gift from an unobligated giver. This is the very news that has us so filled with satisfaction in GOD!
So, Paul says, “In light of this amazing grace …” or “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment …” (Romans 12:3)
This is how you and I begin to change: The grace of God sobers us, humbles us, and awakens our soul to no longer crave worshipping counterfeits, and to enjoy the real thing-- he all-satisfying GOD who will never leave, break down, or fail.
Instead of when we made life all about us and we wanted the glory and the credit, we are sobered at the foot of the cross because the Son of God died there in our place because He loves us and because it brings Him all the glory!
He gets the glory, and we get the joy! The gospel is how you and I enjoy and worship God. In Christ’s victory, you and I are free from having to fix our own problems because He is the power who has brought us to lasting victory. He is the One who transforms the mind and heart!
The cross liberates us from bondage to the power of material things and worldly status in our lives. In Christ, we are finally free from the bondage of sin and we are satisfied, in a lasting way, in the eternal God.
In the gospel, our minds and hearts are transformed to truly know what it is to enjoy God! And as a result, we present our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.
Jesus transforms us. Jesus is God’s mercy upon us. Jesus brings renewal to our minds and hearts. Jesus is the source of lasting joy, which then causes us to authentically worship Him.
My prayer today is that you are gripped by the good news of a God who showers us with costly grace; and that it begins to transform
the way you think and do life so much so that it satisfies your heart as you now enjoy God and worship Him above all His created
things each day He gives you under the sun.
By His grace and for His glory,
-Shepherd
Soldiers for Jesus MC