“True worship has less to do with offering sacrifices than with being a sacrifice ourselves.”
Most people do not come into a worship service prepared to give our whole selves over to God. We brought sins that need to be confessed and cleansed before we leave. We brought questions that need answers and problems that need solutions. We brought burdens that need lifted and anxieties that need to be dispelled and frustrations and depression and boredom and preoccupations, all kinds of distractions. May I say that for most of us it would be easier to take out our checkbook, double our offering, and put it in the plate than it would be to turn ourselves over to God?
But, dare we say that we have not worshiped until we have given ourselves to God. Worship is the total commitment of the total person for the total life. Anything less is not genuine worship.
Real worship is not merely the offering of elaborate prayers to God. It is neither inspiring nor liturgy nor splendid ritual. Nor is it making large donations. Nor is it singing majestic songs of praise, or listening to a sermon. Real worship happens when we confess sin, turn from that sin, and then offer ourselves completely and wholeheartedly to God.
Would one dare not give themselves wholeheartedly when they encountered the presence of God? Would one not fall at his feet giving him their all, if they were caught up in his splendor and holiness? Would one not put their whole self in, if they felt the love and power of God Almighty?
Let us build our lives on this truth of worship. Sink your roots in this truth. Moreover, your new life will flow out with mercy. This is crucial to see. We must never let the Christian life drift into a mere social agenda, because if God is left out, our worship will be mere social agenda. We do no one good in the end if we are not worshiping and leading them to worship in the acts of submission that we do. If our good deeds are not expressing the worth of God, then our deeds are not worship, and in the end, will not be merciful. Making people comfortable or helping them feel good on the way to everlasting punishment, without the hope and the design that they see Christ in your good deeds, is not mercy. Worship must aim to make much of Christ. No one is saved who doesn’t meet and make much of Christ. When we choose to worship, we choose to surrender.
Let our Praise be more than Anthems