Romans 12:1-2 says, “I urge 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.”
What is worship? Perhaps you have thought of worship as singing worship songs, or maybe going to church, reading your Bible, prayer—these are certainly ways we worship God. But true worship is loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Earlier in Romans, Paul talked about those who worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator. But Jesus said, “You shall worship,” meaning bow before, “the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”
God is merciful, forgiving your sins through faith in Jesus. He has offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice. So you must offer yourself as a living sacrifice, “holy and acceptable to God.” Turning from sin and living a life of purity and obedience, submitting to the will of the Father as Jesus did—this is worship.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world… The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15, 17). How do we know what God’s will is? By reading His word, the Bible.
There Jesus says that “the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,” (John 4:23), for He is worthy of our worship, when we understand the text.
