“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, 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.”

Romans 12:1 

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JULY 28, 2025

The focus for this week’s devotional series is worship. What comes to mind when you hear the word worship? Is it singing hymns or choruses, time spent in a sanctuary with an orchestra and choir, hearing preaching from the pulpit, investing in your own personal time alone with the Lord?  

Worship is the one thing that we can do on earth that we will be doing for eternity. True worship begins with a heart that genuinely seeks God. We can worship God at any time and in any place. Worship is our opportunity to honor God in posture, thought, and words both spoken and sung. It is a time to draw near to God.  

Jesus taught that true worshippers worship in spirit and truth. Spirit refers to the attitude of our hearts in worship; truth refers to the reality revealed in Jesus. In Romans 12, Paul encourages worship as the unreserved presentation of ourselves to God. He prefaced his exhortation by stating that this urging is based upon the mercies of God.  

In Paul’s Jewish tradition, the mercy of God was celebrated through animal sacrifice; in Paul’s day and ours the mercy of God is received through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. In both instances, a repentant heart on the part of the sinner is a prerequisite to fully enter into the mercy of God.  

Paul borrowed from Old Testament worship forms as he pictured true worshippers offering themselves as living sacrifices. Because of God’s mercy poured out on us through Christ these are not sacrificial offerings per se, but expressions of total dedication to God. A sacrifice laid upon an altar is totally consumed leaving nothing behind. A living sacrifice is totally committed to God leaving nothing outside of His command.  

So, what is worship? It is the repeated rededication of ourselves to God as Lord of our lives. This is our spiritual act of worship. Repentance is an integral part of worship, as we humble ourselves before Him, confessing our sin and entering His presence with freedom and confidence, presenting our lives for His service.     

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • How do you respond to the mercy of God?  
  • What does Paul’s urging to offer your body as a living sacrifice mean for you personally? What is something in your life that is a challenge to lay on the altar for God? 

Church Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 1; Psalm 81-82