Read Romans 9-12
In our culture we don’t talk much about sacrifices. It’s not exactly a warm and fuzzy word. Just read this definition and you’ll understand why: “an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure.”
Before Christ, this is how the Jewish people got right with God. They went to the temple, gave their animal sacrifice to the priest, and he presented it to God to cover their sins. But God sent his son Jesus Christ to become a living sacrifice that would be offered for the sins of the world. For you and for me. And when we accept Him and His sacrifice, we are made right with God. That is good news!
In Romans 12:1, we are told to give ourselves to God as living sacrifices as our spiritual act of worship. Wait a minute? You mean, our spiritual act of worship doesn’t involve singing songs, dancing or clapping? Where’s the music? Where’s the hour on Sunday that we attend and check off our list as reasonable service to God?
This is troubling, because it doesn’t fit our definition of worship. Here’s the truth about worship. God doesn’t want our songs if they are just lip service. God doesn’t need us to show up on Sundays. The thing God wants most of all from you is something that no one else in all the world can give him. He wants our affection…our devotion…our life…as an offering to him…to glorify his name. This is our spiritual act of worship!
