He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:14)
I’ve been thinking the last few days about what people mean when they say, “I love to worship.”
For that matter, what do I mean?
I think for many people, it means, “I feel good when I sing songs to God. I sense his love. I feel so close to him.”
I confess, it’s easy for me to think of worship this way.
But is that all worship is?
Worship recognizes that by his great mercy, Jesus went to the cross for our sins. He did so to cleanse us of our sin and make us his own people, a people eager to do good works, serving him.
We are his now. We belong to him.
And so worshiping God doesn’t just mean singing love songs.
It’s living a life that says, “My life is completely yours. My money. My time. I offer every aspect of my life to you.”
Paul recognized that in Romans 11-12.
Paul sang a song, but it’s notable that it wasn’t just a love song. It was a song which recognized that all things in this world are from God, through him, and to him, and that all glory belongs to him. (Romans 11:36).
And then Paul defines true worship:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. (Romans 12:1)
When you say that you love to worship, is that what you mean?
Father, help me to love worship. To joyfully offer you all I am and all I have to you, holding nothing back.
It’s only right that I worship you by offering myself to you. For you created me and by your will, I was created and exist (Revelation 4:11).
From you, and through you, and to you are all things. So not just in my songs, but in every aspect of my life, be glorified. In Jesus’ name amen.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 