Words on Worship

It's funny, but most of us look into the mirror and our first reaction is negative. We think "My hair is messy" or "I have bags under my eyes" or whatever. Rare is the day when we are actually satisfied with our outward appearance.  And even though our society places a great deal of importance on how we look on the outside, God's concern is how we look on the inside.  Are you attractive on the inside?  Is your heart free from sin and are your motives selfless?  Only you and God know these things.  But it is a pure...

It almost sounds like a morbid thought, doesn't it?   A living sacrifice?  Yet that is the very phrase the Apostle Paul uses in Romans 12:1.  It is a reference back to the Old Testament days when sheep were sacrificed for the shepherds as an offering unto God.  But when Jesus came, it all turned upside down.  Now, the Shepherd had offered himself as a sacrifice for His sheep.  and the covenant of grace became reality.  So when Paul says we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, he literally means we are to present all that we...

There is perhaps nothing more majestic than the sight of a gorgeous temple. A temple is a sanctuary, the house of God, a place for corporate worship. Throughout history, the temple has been looked upon as the place the Spirit of the Lord dwells.   And yet, in I Corinthians 6:19, the Apostle Paul refers to our bodies as a temple.  Why?  Because as Christians, the Spirit of the Lord dwells in each of us.  Our bodies are the very sanctuary in which the Holy Spirit of God resides.  Whoa! Nothing like that little reminder to encourage pure living!  I encourage...

I believe in exercise.  Not only does it make me feel better, but it sharpens my mind and has great benefits over a lifetime.  However, as good as exercise is for the body, there is another exercise that is even more important… exercising unto godliness.  Paul reminds his young disciple in 1 Timothy that bodily exercise does have some profit, but that exercising godliness is infinitely more profitable.  Why? Because godly living…or worshipful living…directly impacts every aspect of your life…the body, mind and soul.  And, even though exercising our bodies has some benefits on this earth, exercising  godliness has unending...

Notice I did not say, How do I worship my body, but rather, how do I worship with my body.  We live in a culture that is obsessed with the body.   For many, having a great body is the ultimate in success.  And it's big business, too…reaching an average revenue of $21.4 billion dollars a year. But did you know that Jesus says that part of the greatest commandment is to worship the Lord with all your strength? Did he mean physical strength?  Not entirely.  What He meant was this: Love the Lord your God with all the strength of grace...