Set Apart for Him

Today I was reading En Pos de Lo Supremo (My Utmost for His Highest) by Oswald Chambers, my favorite devotional, and his message dealt with theme of worship. Throughout the course of the day I would catch myself reflecting on the subject of worship, to be more specific how do I worship God? Has worshipping the one and Only True God become an exercise in checking off a list of to-dos during the week and on Sunday? I was quite surprised last night as we joined the other missionary families for the weekly worship service when we sang Matt Redman’s, ‘Back to the heart of worship’…

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come / Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… / I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus.

I have heard this song many times and I am always left asking myself the question “Lord, have I made it all about you Jesus?” In the Bible the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1).

A simple confession, there are days when I get really busy with surviving in Guatemala, a new ministry, my precious family and the need to work. I procrastinate in my time ‘set apart for Him’ knowing all along that I as a follower of Christ can no more survive spiritually without spending time with Him than I can survive physically without eating.

A Follower of Jesus should never under estimate the life changing significance of being with Him daily. As we navigate this life our worship to Him is more than a check list. The integrity of true worship to Christ is determined by the focus of our thoughts, how and when we use our words, how we interact with others, what we invest our time and resources in…there is a reason we are to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Our spiritual act of worship is defined by our daily submission to His divine authority as we ‘set apart for Him’ our whole being.

More of Jesus and less of me.