I am a Worshiper by Randy Stracner
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am a worshiper. But that’s not really a secret or something that anyone who knows me didn’t already know. But a worshiper of what or of whom? I am ashamed to admit that I have directed my worship in the wrong direction many times in my life. Many people remember me as a high school educator and coach. I coached basketball, softball and volleyball for twenty-five years. I can honestly, but unfortunately say, I worshiped it. Of course, it takes a lot of time and effort to do it the right way and be successful. Hours and hours of work. I could never get it off of my mind, always planning and preparing. There were so many times I would be at home with my family physically, but not mentally. I did not have balance in my life. I had the right frame of mind when it came to helping young people and I strived to influence them in a positive way for life after sports. But there were so many times when I compartmentalized God. He was a Sunday thing only. I am thankful as I have grown and matured in my faith and walk with Christ that He has taught me about true and proper worship.
No one does not worship. Everyone is a worshiper. The Bible often refers to worship as “ascribing, bowing, or submission.” Worship is always happening. We are always ascribing god-hood to someone or something. We must remember we were made to worship God, to give Him glory with our thoughts, words and actions. The problem is, we don’t want to. We’d rather worship creation than the Creator. Much of what we choose to worship is beautiful and good. It’s not wrong to want success in a career. It’s not wrong to want nice things for your family. It’s not wrong to want success in sports or other hobbies. These aspirations and desires are good. They’re just not the ultimate, and they cannot give us the satisfaction that we seek long term.
However, as Christians, saved by God’s grace, we want to make sure that our worship is rightly directed. God’s grace is sufficient. For Jesus lived a life of perfect worship, of perfect submission to the will and word of God. Risen and ascended, He now advocates for us to our Heavenly Father. And what Jesus has done demands a response. We must worship Him.
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” The apostle Paul is saying because of God’s grace and mercy toward you, worship Him with all that you are and all you will be.
What a blessing! God has given us the ability to worship Him through the Holy Spirit. What does this look like in practical ways?
We could continue to list different ways in which we honor the Lord by presenting ourselves as “living sacrifices,” but we can sum this up by referring to Col. 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
We can worship and pursue the gods of money, power, cultural significance, or whatever it is in your life. None of these will ever give you peace and fulfillment that compares to a life with Jesus. All of these things will ultimately devour you. But in Jesus, there is freedom, and in Jesus, there is life. Let’s strive to be intentional with our worship. Yes, I am a worshiper ... .A worshiper of Jesus!
No one does not worship. Everyone is a worshiper. The Bible often refers to worship as “ascribing, bowing, or submission.” Worship is always happening. We are always ascribing god-hood to someone or something. We must remember we were made to worship God, to give Him glory with our thoughts, words and actions. The problem is, we don’t want to. We’d rather worship creation than the Creator. Much of what we choose to worship is beautiful and good. It’s not wrong to want success in a career. It’s not wrong to want nice things for your family. It’s not wrong to want success in sports or other hobbies. These aspirations and desires are good. They’re just not the ultimate, and they cannot give us the satisfaction that we seek long term.
However, as Christians, saved by God’s grace, we want to make sure that our worship is rightly directed. God’s grace is sufficient. For Jesus lived a life of perfect worship, of perfect submission to the will and word of God. Risen and ascended, He now advocates for us to our Heavenly Father. And what Jesus has done demands a response. We must worship Him.
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” The apostle Paul is saying because of God’s grace and mercy toward you, worship Him with all that you are and all you will be.
What a blessing! God has given us the ability to worship Him through the Holy Spirit. What does this look like in practical ways?
- Wake up in the morning and acknowledge you are alive, God has given you another day.
- Approach your work, school, family, and each aspect of your life as a gift to you.
- Be a good steward of the gifts you’ve been given so that you can point people to Jesus by your words and actions.
- Honor the Lord in the way you treat others in hopes that they will experience the grace and mercy that you’ve been shown in Christ
- Become a member of a small group, serve in the local church, and become invested with a local group of believers.
We could continue to list different ways in which we honor the Lord by presenting ourselves as “living sacrifices,” but we can sum this up by referring to Col. 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
We can worship and pursue the gods of money, power, cultural significance, or whatever it is in your life. None of these will ever give you peace and fulfillment that compares to a life with Jesus. All of these things will ultimately devour you. But in Jesus, there is freedom, and in Jesus, there is life. Let’s strive to be intentional with our worship. Yes, I am a worshiper ... .A worshiper of Jesus!
No Comments