"then say to him, 'the LORD, the God of the hebrews, has sent me to say to you: let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert. but until now you have not listened."
~exodus 7:16
at church this week, pastor todd spoke about worship. he talked about how worshiping God was more than just singing, more than just praying, more than just spending time in fellowship with other believers. worship is a verb. it's an action word and a command from God. God rescued people out of slavery simply so that they would be free to worship him! God wants us to live our lives in worship to him- he wants us to choose to do everything we do with intention and with right motives- to bring glory to his name and show his love to others. he wants us to give up the earthly parts of ourselves (our earthly temptations, our sins, our weaknesses and selfishness) and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives so that Jesus shines through us.
"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. 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."
~romans 12:1-2
"do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord Himself, and not your earthly master. in fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and you know that he will reward you."
~colossians 3:23-24
i know that if i was really truly 100% in the mindset that i was serving Christ through everything i did (my schoolwork and studying, every conversation and interaction i had throughout the day, all of the decisions i make) and was more conscious of this, my life and how i live it wouldn't be the same. i would definitely do a much better job at showing others Christ's love, telling them how much Jesus loves them and how much God treasures them... i'd be much less lazy and a more honest, less hypocrital, more powerful witness to the saving power of Jesus and his work on the cross.
"whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. i tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."
~luke 17:33-34
so this is just a little reminder to myself that i need to daily give up my life to God and to his plans for me. living for God is no easy task (hah, that goes without saying.), but God knew that it wouldn't be- which is why he gave us his Son, to save us from ourselves and our weaknesses. the struggles we endure alongside him are turned to joy when we see him working in our lives and in others' lives. when others take steps of faith and walk towards Him, and when we draw nearer to the living God in our own lives, it is always utterly apparent that he truly does repay anything we offer to him by the thousand-fold. i know from my personal experiences, God always takes the bad decisions i make and turns them to be used for his glory. in return for the smallest things we may sacrifice, he never fails to repay us with joy, peace, happiness, his love, grace, freedom from guilt and sin, and a life saving relationship with the One and Only. what could possibly top that?
"instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace."
~romans 6:13-14
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