Weekly "Call To Worship" Encouragement

I think about this scripture often when thinking about worship. I love what we call the corporate worship, when we worship here, together as the body of Christ.  But as this passage points out, worship continues throughout the week - you could say 24-7.

Romans 12: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Offer our bodies as living sacrifices, this is true and proper worship.  But what does that mean exactly?  I believe that God’s word provides at least part of the explanation in the following verses, when we are called to use our gifts.

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

I want to encourage you this morning to understand worship in this way, using your gifts to glorify God.  Pray about it.  What are your gifts, what is God’s will for your life?  How can we worship by being a living sacrifice?

I also want to encourage you to read the rest of Romans 12.  There is much more on how to worship by being a living sacrifice.

Let’s pray together.

Father in heaven, you have been so merciful to us.  Your grace is abundant and your gifts are abundant.  Help us to live active, worshipful lives.  We are so thankful to be here together to worship you, help us to continue to worship throughout the week.  Thank you for Jesus, our Lord and our Savior, Amen.