Humanity was designed for worship. It’s in our spiritual DNA – to be human is to worship. Not convinced? You, me… everyone, we’re all dyed-in-the-wool evangelists spreading the good news of our favorite team, our favorite artist, our favorite movie, our favorite restaurant, our favorite

[insert here]… on and on it goes, each hashtag pouring forth praise. I’m a veritable walking hallelujah. Let’s narrow our focus. More specifically, humanity was designed to worship God. The Westminster Larger Catechism says it this way; “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”[1] So worship, “or our humbling yet delightful sense of admiring awe,”[2] is our holistic response – mind, body, will and emotions, to who God is, what He says and what He does. This definition goes well beyond western evangelical views of worship as 15 minutes of music on Sunday. Worship is for all of life.

If you’re anything like me, the statement “worship is for all of life” will remain worthless abstraction if we fail to put handles on it. The slogan may sell some t-shirts, but what does it look like when it moves away from abstraction and is woven into the fabric of everyday life? The Apostle Paul graciously provides handles in Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~ Romans 12: 1-2

We’re joining Paul’s thought process mid-stream as he transitions the book of Romans from doctrinal abstraction to practical application, from right thinking to right living. He has spent the better part of 11 chapters detailing the mercies that God has lavished on those who believe in Jesus.

We were conquered by evil, sin and death; in Christ, we are victorious.

… This is mercy!

We were the objects of God’s righteous wrath; in Christ, we are the objects of God’s unending affection.

… This is mercy!

We were alienated from God; in Christ, we are adopted sons and daughters of God.

… This is mercy!

We were a hopeless people; in Christ, we are a people of hope.

… This is mercy!

In Christ, we gain access to the infinite reservoir of God’s unending mercies. But how do we orient our lives in such a way that demonstrates that we actually believe God is who He says He is? How do we live a holy life of worship?

In verse 2 we find the cliff notes version of what offering our lives as a “living sacrifice” of worship actually looks like. “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world…” That is, do not live like you’re still a slave to sin. Don’t allow the self-centered spirit of the age to shape the orientation of our lives away from God. Instead, allow the Spirit to “transform [us from the inside out] by the renewing of [our] mind.” That is, set your minds on the things of God. Allow the Spirit of God to mold the orientation of our lives Godward. This two-dimensional lifestyle of holiness, dying to sin and living to righteousness, assumes an intentional and aggressive posture. When sin threatens to overcome your heart, resist! Fight against it! Do battle, put sin to death! When righteousness mercifully springs to life, encourage it! Kindle its flames! Cause it to grow into a consuming fire! Remember everything Christ has accomplished on your behalf; live like you actually believe it. Fight against sin in your life and strive to lay hold of the righteousness that is already yours in Christ.

Be encouraged, though the daily battle of holiness may oftentimes feel unending, trust that God is expanding the capacity of your soul to drink in fully the breadth, the height and the depth of God’s unending reservoir of mercy given to us in Jesus. 17th Century pastor, theologian and author John Owen does much to encourage us toward living the holy life of worship that God has lovingly called us into:

“He can make the ‘dry, parched ground of my soul to become a pool, and my thirsty, barren heart as springs of water;’ yes, he can make this ‘habitation of dragons,’ this heart, so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations, to be a place of bounty and fruitfulness unto Himself.”[3]

 

[1] Westminster Larger Catechism – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/westminster2.i.i.html

[2] Tozer, A.W, Worship: Rediscovering The Missing Jewel; Christian Publications – Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, pg. 3 (http://worr.org/images/File/Tozer-Worship%20The%20Missing%20Jewel.pdf)

[3] John Owen, The Mortification of Sin; pg. 81 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/mort.i.xvii.html?