Worship -- Part V

We've looked at the first four "W"s of worship -- Who, What, Where, and Why.

The fifth of our "W"s is When.

That's an easy one, isn't it? We worship every Sunday morning from 10-11, plus Sunday night or Wednesday night for some of us. We gather together with other Christians to pray, sing, read scripture, study, and give God his due along the way.

This kind of worship is an important part of the Christian life. God desires that His children be in a community of believers so that we might be encouraged and edified by other Saints. He warns us in the Word that foresaking (turning your back on) the assembly of the saints is not a good thing. And, we see countless examples in the Bible of the many positive things that come from assembling to worship.

But in my book, the most important New Testament words concerning worship appear in Romans 12:

"Therefore,"

Let's stop right there. Anytime we see a new section of scripture begin with "Therefore," we know to look backwards at what the author has previously written. So, what has the Apostle Paul been writing about in chapters 1-11? Principally, that:

• God has revealed to us the gospel of salvation.
• He has shown us his eternal power and divine nature.
• He justifies our lives.
• We have peace through Jesus Christ.
• We exult in hope.
• God has poured out his love to us through his gift of the Holy Spirit.
• We walk in newness of life.
• We have been made free from slavery.
• We've received the free gift of eternal life.

So, with this in mind, Paul writes: "Therefore, I urge you brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

When do we worship? Right now! As well as in 10 minutes, in 10 hours, in 10 days, in 10 years, and when we’ve been there (heaven) for 10,000 years!

Paul says that worship is not simply an activity on the calendar for 10-11 on Sunday. Worship is your life given to God, as a living and holy sacrifice. Why? Because, as the King James version puts it, our "spiritual service of worship" is our "reasonable service." In other words, in light of all that God has done for me, my only reasonable response to Him is that I give Him my life as a living sacrifice. Alive, because Jesus has given me life. Any response less than that is unreasonable and fails to acknowledge the reality of what God has done for me!

It's so easy to define worship as a certain kind of activity that takes place at a certain time of the week. But sometimes when we do so, we fall into the trap of believing that by "fulfilling" God's "requirement" for worship, we are good people and can proceed on with our week in good standing with God.

God desires your Sunday songs and scripture readings. But even more so, God wants your life -- every nook and cranny, every second, every thought, every deed. He wants it all. In light of what He has done for you, can you give Him any less?