TRUE WORSHIP

When you hear the word “worship”, what’s your first thought? Most people think of singing memorable old hymns or more contemporary choruses. Worship is singing about the Lord and to the Lord.

The word “worship” also conjures up thoughts of gathering with God’s people on a Sunday morning in a church’s sanctuary. We get together on Sunday mornings to pray, sing, and hear the Word of God proclaimed from the pulpit. Christians gather on the Lord’s Day to worship.

Paul defines worship in a broader, more comprehensive sense. “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. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God”(Romans 12:1–2). “True worship” or “reasonable worship” (NKJV), or “proper worship” (NIV).

Because Jesus willingly gave His life on Calvary’s cross, it is reasonable to expect that as saved-by-grace, born-again believers we would willingly “present (our) bodies as a living sacrifice” … that’s just “reasonable.”

“True worship” is living life, not “conformed” to the norms of society, but “transformed” by the reality that as saved sinners we are no longer destined to darkness and death, but to light and life. “In view of the mercies of God”, we should live a life of constant and consistent “worship.”

Authentic worship, “true worship,” is living with Jesus… living for Jesus.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).