Romans 12:1-3
Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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.
Matt Redman-“I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and its all about You, all about You Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, when its all about you, its all about you…I’ll bring you more than a song, a song is not what you have required…”
Sometimes the most precious time of worship in church is tainted by people who think it is all about them, and they really feel that they are so spiritual that they can dictate exactly what kind of music they should hear. Don’t get me wrong…I love it all! What I don’t like is when a hymn is sung with a self loathing, depressing tone, and there is no praise in it. I am amazed at how we have been misled in the thinking that we can produce our own humility, and our humbleness looks like ungrateful pride. Self worship. God has caused me to worship regardless of others, and also to remember that it is all for HIM. It doesn’t matter if I like it or not, no one is here on account of me.
Do you ever think about why you will be in church on Sunday? We should be thinking that we are going to go worship our King, and this is time set aside for HIM, just HIM. The teaching time and even the announcements are all a part of the worship service.
Living sacrifice, not a dead one. picking up our cross, denying self, dying to me so that I can be full of HIM. Not dying to self so that on Sunday it can be all about me. Something is twisted in our thinking when it comes to Sundays, and I know it is not everyone, but the minority seem to be loud, and seldom told “its not about you”.
Father God, we are sorry for thinking it is about us, forgive us for always trying to take your seat in all of this. Help us to have the words for the ones who are so persistent in having it thier way, and pulling some sort of spiritual rank on us. Change our hearts to have patience and to be loving to them. We need ears to hear, and eyes to see the way you have for us. Prepare our hearts and minds to be living sacrifices, so that we will no doubt know your good and perfect will. It’s all about you, every little thing, and especially your house. Restore your children to follow hard after you. We are desperate for you, there is no other god, and we want you to be first in every decision. Thank you for yet another Sunday that we can openly praise you and congregate, alot of our brothers and sisters do not have this privilege. If we ever find ourselves in thier shoes, I pray that we will stand firm, and give you all the glory.