True Spiritual Worship

"Put to death, therefore, whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 NHEB

Notice that covetousness is defined as idolatry. Idolatry is when we worship something or someone who is not God. Worship is a heart of dependence upon. We so often identify worship with a feeling or a style, that we fail to understand that worship is our life.

Romans 12:1 "I appeal to 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." ESV

I realize the word "worship" in the Romans passage may also be translated "rational service." But either way we see that true worship is not a moment or two in a service, but a life-style of dependence upon the Savior. When we begin to "want" more than what has been provided, either through our work, or through gifts, then we can easily slip into a mind-set that is actually involved in idolatry in our heart desires and dependences.  Many times we do not understand this tendency and slip into ineffectiveness in our lives because the emphasis of our lives has shifted from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ into something we either want Him to do for us, or we want something from others. It is a subtle shift, but a shift nonetheless. It wrecks havoc on our dependence in faith and Spirit.

This entire passage is to alert us to what has been done for us and to urge us to apply the corresponding complimentary action for full reception of the gift of life in Christ. Remember when Paul told the Philippians in 4:11 "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." His contentment came out of a heart fully satisfied in His relationship with the Lord. He understood Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."

When we are dependent upon the Lord, in His faithfulness, He never fails. So we need not have a want  about anything. This stretches us all a bit more than we would prefer. So just think about it, pray with it and begin to embrace the truth of the faithful care of our our Beloved Lord.