Taken from a WayForward training in 2023.
Every day, we have an opportunity. The opportunity to worship Jesus with our entire lives which we should not take lightly. We see this in Romans 12:1 where Paul appeals to the Christian in Rome saying:
“present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
The puritan Christians (between the years 1560 to 1689) got this right when they described worship this way. “Glorious God, it is the flame of my life to worship you, the crown and glory of my soul to adore you, heavenly pleasure to approach you. Give me power by the Spirit to help me worship now, that I may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, blessed. Give me knowledge of thy goodness that I might not be over-awed by your greatness; Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, that I might no be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness; He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter, Branch, Daysman, Lamb; him I glorify, in him I am set on high” – Valley of Vision.
Filial love drives home the point that worship is a display of filial affection. The definition goes on to clarify this love is dutiful, devotional, loyal, faithful, compliant, respectful, dedicated, affectionate, befitting of a son or daughter. This type of worship is holistic, comprising your entire life. A life wholly given to Jesus our Savior, free from distractions, hindrances and personal pursuits is spiritual worship.
Paul finished his appeal in Romans 12 to daily spiritual worship by calling Christians to no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. As WayForward seeks to make disciples who are disciple-makers, we must be reminded that mission without worship to Jesus is blind. Worship should be the primary motivator of our disciple-making, allowing Jesus to bring us into fullness of life. Today in 2023, we have the opportunity of every day worship center on Jesus.
D o m i n i c R o s a t o 