Next, Paul discusses the practical steps to truly worshipping the Lord. As His children, each of us want to worship the Lord gladly and gratefully. So, with that in mind, Paul sets out some key elements. Interestingly, Paul starts out by reminding us that one of the most important parts of worship is to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God. For us to truly worship God, we have to separate ourselves from the pattern of the world. In short, we have to become selfless, and God focused.
That is why Paul explains that being a living sacrifice has a few key parts. First, worshippers need to move from conforming to the world’s pattern of living for yourself and seeking your needs first and foremost, to a transformed life; one with a new mind focused upon God. While that transformation is ongoing and requires a renewed mind and heart; God does that renewal—not us, in our own power. It is God’s ongoing sanctification carried out until the day of Christ’s return that, will transform us into Christ-centered worshippers that are holy and pleasing to the Father.
In addition, we then become part of the family of believers that make up the body of Christ. Paul reminds us that does not mean we are all to look and act the same. Instead, like any other body, we are made up of many different parts with different looks and functions. No matter the look or the function, each one is a critical part of the entire life of the body of believers we call the Church. We worship the Lord by accepting our role with humility and with joy.
It is wonderful to see a church full of folks that make God the focus. whether greeting, preaching, teaching, giving, encouraging, or simply helping with operations in some capacity; each person graciously and gratefully carries out their function with a joyful heart. The members focus upon making God the center of their day. That is true worship. God receives all the glory, and we get all the benefit of being a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves.
God Bless You
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. 2 Do not conform 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.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Walking With God 