August 27, 2020
Quit Crawling Off the Altar
Romans 12:1-8
Brett Johnston
Central Truth
When we reflect to God the way He made us, it is our purest form of worship and our spiritual service to which we are each uniquely called.
Key Verse | Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1-8
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, 1 12:1 Or brothers and sisters by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 12:1 Or your rational service 2 Do not be conformed to this world, 3 12:2 Greek age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 4 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, 5 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5 and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, 6 12:8 Or gives aid with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Dive Deeper | Romans 12:1-8
This is my life's verse. When I understood it, it was truly a cathartic realization that allowed me to see God more clearly. Realizing that I am to be a living sacrifice, one that "stays on" the altar with God. It is when I decide to "crawl off" away from God that my life is no longer worship. That means everything can be worship. It also means there are no neutral acts. (Notice I did not say there are no neutral things).
These verses point out that we each have our part in God's plan, if in fact we have a relationship with Jesus. It means that there is nothing more redeeming or worshipful than reflecting to God the way in which He made each of us.
Think about that. God gave you a unique and individual gift that allows you to worship Him in that specific way in which He made you. I used to think being on full-time staff of a ministry was the most spiritual thing any of us could do. These verses point out clearly how that is wrong thinking. If you are a preacher, then preach. If you are a doctor, then practice medicine. If you are a painter, then paint. Each thing is equal worship, as long as you are doing it unto the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." This means doing whatever work you do CAN be your purest form of worship. This means being a really excellent plumber, lawyer, banker, realtor, preacher, teacher, or anything else IS WORSHIP when you do it heartily for the Lord. Your rewards look different here, but not eternally. Being you, as a Christ follower, means surrounding yourself with God's Word, prayer, and His people. You were not created to go it alone. But you were created to worship Him uniquely the way in which He made you.
Discussion Questions
1. What rewards are you trying to look for on this earth?
2. What areas of your life have you thought were more sacred than others?
3. Do you believe your life and all that you do are a form of worship? Why or why not?
4. What is keeping you from your spiritual service of worship?