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Romans 12:1-2

Peggy and I have recently been discussing work hours, days off, family time, and so on. As a pastor and family it is not always easy to set hard and fast hours or days for work. Sometimes the job becomes all-consuming.

In this passage Paul is writing to the early church in Rome, a people who are suffering tremendous political oppression. What does he urge them to do in verse 1? Why should they do this? To what does he compare this act?

What should they resist? How can they avoid conforming? What is the result?

In a society where believing in Jesus is a crime punishable by death, it may be difficult to bring yourself to worship. But the Roman church was urged to see that living a life of belief, risking death, was a form of worship. All of their life was worship.

For those of us in this free society who attend worship services on weekends, things may seem different. When does worship end? Does it end with the final song? Or do you tune out when the message is over?

Just as God is not confined to a building – a church building – but exists in all places, so also our worship should be offered in all places. The act of worshiping God – praising, communing, adoring and serving – should not be limited to the worship service, the one hour a week set aside for the church service. This is certainly a great place and time to set your mind to worship. It is a great place and time to be intentional in your praise of God. But worship should have no limits.

The service of the candle-lighters (used to be called “acolytes”) is actually a very significant part of worship in a church. They bring the light into the building – a reminder of God’s presence. Then they take the light out of the sanctuary – out into the world.

This simple act should be a reminder to all of us that we are to go out in the world and continue worshiping God in all we do and in how we act in the world. Our bodies and all we do should be living sacrifices, a spiritual act of worship.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do each day to remind yourself to worship God?