Worshipping God

By Not Known

An important goal for the Christian is that the whole of life becomes a living act of worship (Rom 12: 1). This means that every thought, word and deed reflects our deepest admiration of God, our dependence on him and our love for him. God created us for this. God calls us to this (Dt 6: 5)

Our sinful nature leads us to worship the creation instead of its creator (Rom 1: 25). We especially see this in self-worship. How can we re-train to worship God rather than ourselves?

Paul explains that a life of worshipping God happens by a negative and a positive (Rom 12: 1- 2). The negative is to be a non-conformist. We must dare to be different from the relentless pressure that pushes us into the mould of those who deny God and worship themselves. Instead of being confirmed, we are to be transformed. That starts with thinking as Christians. When we think as Christians, we can discern what is the God-worshipping thing to do in every situation. When we know what the God-worshipping thing is, we can resolve to do it and seek God’s help to do so.

Therefore, learning to think as Christians about the whole of life is the key to turning the whole of life into a living act of God-worship.

Today’s sermon topic relates to this: Who am I? The way we answer that has deep implications for how we see others and ourselves and how we act.

Some say that we are merely the dust of the earth – just another species and purely material in nature. On that view, we are worth nothing and life is ultimately meaningless. Likewise, the life of another person has little value and so there is no imperative to help a needy person.

Others say that we are like gods. This really lays the basis to worship ourselves. It can then turn ugly when we see other people as rival gods as competitors and treat them as such.

From Genesis 1 on, the Bible gives us a different view of people. We are made from the earth’s dust and so we share affinity with the rest of creation. However, we are also made in God’s image and so have a unique nature and value. But God makes us. It is therefore him, and not ourselves, that we must worship.