Spiritual Worship

Romans 12:1-2

“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. 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.”

Therefore is referring back to something stated earlier, and in this case it is chapters 1-11, and in the “Life Essentials Study Bible” Gene Getz gives a great summery.  I will take some liberty with what Pastor Getz has stated, so check out in full what he has written on page 1552. 

All have sinned and sin brings about death, physically and spiritually.

All people can be made in right standing with God by faith in Christ

Because of the cross, and Christ’s death and resurrection all who believe can identify with Jesus and live a godly life because of the Holy Spirit.

We who are in Christ were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Therefore, “In view of God’s mercy and grace, clearly taught in the first eleven chapters, we are to do as instructed in chapter 12:1-2.

Have you got a hang-up with presenting your body as a living sacrifice, and read past this statement, “by the mercies of God?”  First and foremost, most of us who go by the tag Christian have no comprehension of the word sacrifice.  Some of us might believe it is not going fishing in order to attend a Bible study, and in truth you would have been better off fishing.  Are you ladies not buying something you do not need to please a want, and putting the money in the pot of the Salvation Army.  Most of us have little understanding of the term sacrifice as a spiritual worship.

But God desires that we enter into spiritual worship, and has given me a better understanding of how to do that in Max Lucado’s new book titled “In the Manger” it 25 inspirational selections for Advent.  On page 29 it is titled “Christ in you” and it is referring to Mary’s prayer “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

I have no intent of copying this but let me put in green Max’s thoughts; “What must it have been like for Mary to carry God in her womb?  The virgin birth is much more than a Christmas story; it is a picture of how close Christ will come to you.  The first stop on his itinerary was a womb.  Where will God go to touch the world?  Look deep within Mary for the answer.  Better still, look deep within yourself.  What he did with Mary, he offers to us!  He issues a Mary level invitation to all his children.  “If you’ll let me, I’ll move in!”

Max goes on to share what I believe is spiritual worship, in John 14:20, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”  In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”  And many more Scriptures that could be added to this list such as; “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 emphasis added).

Max gave so much insight in this small chapter that has helped my understanding of spiritual worship.  Like Christ grew in Mary till He came out, and Christ will grow in you and me till the same occurs.  How will that look; it will show in your speech, your love for others shown in your actions, and in the decisions you make in your ministry, at home, in the workplace, and with your neighbors.

Max gave this insight, “Mary carried a fetus in her, but He is a force in you.”  But unless we become like a young teenage Mary who offered no resistance, but had this attitude, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) 

Let me close with these words from Max; “Unlike her, we tend to assist God, assuming our part is as important as his.  Or we resist, thinking we are too bad or too busy.  Yet when we assist or resist, we miss God’s great grace.  We miss out on the reason we were placed on earth – to be so pregnant with heaven’s child that he lives through us.  To be so full of Him that we could say with Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  When you have this attitude of Mary, you have entered into spiritual worship.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice