Pentecost Devotions – June 13

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

It doesn’t take much effort to scan the internet and discover the wide variety of opinions and confusion about worship. I recently observed a video with young people jumping up and down at a rock concert with an outstanding laser show and fireworks. This event was promoted as worship! While this activity may stretch the definition of worship to the breaking point, the promoters of this concert tour are not alone in their confusion. St. Paul gives us some important insight into “spiritual worship.”

The first element he mentions here is presenting our bodies to God. This spiritual worship entails more than an hour on Sunday or a few hours at a concert. Christian worship is a 24/7/365 activity of presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. What we do to and with our bodies is an indication of our faithfulness to God.  St. Paul wants our bodies to be holy and acceptable to God. Our use of food, drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, exercise, rest, etc. is all part of worship or the lack thereof.

The second element of worship is to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” One of the biggest challenges for American Christianity is to remember that the world does not have all the answers. We must never look to polls and marketing to determine our worship and teaching. We certainly are on shaky ground when we believe that conforming to pop culture is the salvation of the church.

How is it that we can accomplish these difficult tasks? It is only by the working of the Holy Spirit that we can begin to offer our bodies as spiritual worship and to be transformed in our mind. Our natural tendencies are to join the world in its faulty thinking.

Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate presenting of His body as a sacrifice for sins. In His sacrifice He has redeemed our bodies from sin. No matter how you may have abused your body in the past, Jesus had redeemed it and made it holy and acceptable in God’s sight. For this reason the Holy Spirit moves us to continue to live pure and holy lives.

May we learn spiritual worship from the Holy Spirit that our lives will be pleasing and acceptable to God.  May we live under God’s grace knowing His wonderful forgiveness is there for us 24/7/365.

Prayer: O Holy Spirit, grant that my life will be transformed by the Gospel of Christ in such a way that I live according to your holy will. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus