WORSHIPING GOD WITH EVERY SENSE OF COMMITMENT

There is a Christian lyric that is so common among the children which I always love so much to sing. Not only because the content of the song is a message, but also because it comes with a kind of dramatization or in form of an exercise. Do you know the lyric? “My head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes; my head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes; my head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes, they all belong to Jesus”. Since our Sunday school days, we were thought to touch every part of the body involved as we sing this song. I guess this simple lyric has a link with our hymn of commitment for this year, “All to Jesus I surrender…” When I think of this lyric and this hymn, I’m reminded of another instruction. This one is from Paul the apostle, he writes: “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1). “To present your bodies” is Paul’s way of asking for our daily offering of our whole person to God.

Most of us understand the idea of giving an offering of money at church. There are bags and envelopes, and we put our money or our check in an envelope and drop it in the bags. It represents an acknowledgement of God’s blessings in our lives; it represents our commitment to the ministry of the congregation; it is a part of our worship; it’s a way in which we open up the windows of heaven so God can bless us even further; it represents for many an antidote to materialism.  Most of us understand what it means to make an offering to the church. But all of us without exception need some help with the idea of offering ourselves to God, to put our whole self in.

We can’t put ourselves in an envelope. We can’t climb or jump into the bag when the usher comes by and say; “My offering to God today is myself.” Most of us do not come into a worship service prepared to give our whole selves over to God. We brought sins that need to be confessed and cleansed before we leave. We brought questions that need answers and problems that need solutions. We brought burdens that need lifted and anxieties that need to be dispelled – and frustrations, depression, boredom, preoccupations and all kinds of distractions. May I say that for most of us it would be easier to take out our cheque books and double our offering and put it in the bag than it would be to turn ourselves over to God.

But dare I say that we have not worshiped until we have given ourselves to God. Worship is the total commitment of the total person for the total life. Anything less is not genuine worship. Real worship is not merely the offering of elaborate prayers to God. Neither is it inspiring liturgy or splendid ritual. Nor is it making large donations. Nor is it singing majestic songs of praise, or listening to sermons. Real worship happens when we confess sin, turn from that sin, and then offer ourselves completely and wholeheartedly to God.

Would people dare not give themselves wholeheartedly when they encountered the presence of God? Would they not fall at his feet giving him their all, if they were caught up in his splendor and holiness? Would  they not put their whole selves in, if they felt the love and power of God Almighty?

Are you ready to put your whole self into the arms of God? Are you ready to commit your all to Jesus? Worship is the free offering of ourselves to God; ever renewed, because ever imperfect. It expresses the consciousness that we are His. yet we have not duly passed into his hand. Commitment is the giving of all one knows of himself to all one knows of God. Anything less than total commitment is unacceptable to God. Commitment is different from interest. A man may be interested in a thing, but may not be committed to it. Commitment is doing everything God has placed before you as if there would never be a second chance. Whatever your hands finds to do, do it with every sense of commitment …and you will be blessed (Eccl. 9:10).

Wishing you the whole blessing that comes from wholly committing yourself to His glorious service.

Your brother, friend and Pastor

Clement Iwuoha

There is a Christian lyric that is so common among the children which I always love so much to sing. Not only because the content of the song is a message, but also because it comes with a kind of dramatization or in form of an exercise. Do you know the lyric? “My head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes; my head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes; my head, my shoulders, my knees, my toes, they all belong to Jesus”. Since our Sunday school days, we were thought to touch every part of the body involved as we sing this song. I guess this simple lyric has a link with our hymn of commitment for this year, “All to Jesus I surrender…” When I think of this lyric and this hymn, I’m reminded of another instruction. This one is from Paul the apostle, he writes: “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1). “To present your bodies” is Paul’s way of asking for our daily offering of our whole person to God.

Most of us understand the idea of giving an offering of money at church. There are bags and envelopes, and we put our money or our check in an envelope and drop it in the bags. It represents an acknowledgement of God’s blessings in our lives; it represents our commitment to the ministry of the congregation; it is a part of our worship; it’s a way in which we open up the windows of heaven so God can bless us even further; it represents for many an antidote to materialism.  Most of us understand what it means to make an offering to the church. But all of us without exception need some help with the idea of offering ourselves to God, to put our whole self in.

We can’t put ourselves in an envelope. We can’t climb or jump into the bag when the usher comes by and say; “My offering to God today is myself.” Most of us do not come into a worship service prepared to give our whole selves over to God. We brought sins that need to be confessed and cleansed before we leave. We brought questions that need answers and problems that need solutions. We brought burdens that need lifted and anxieties that need to be dispelled – and frustrations, depression, boredom, preoccupations and all kinds of distractions. May I say that for most of us it would be easier to take out our cheque books and double our offering and put it in the bag than it would be to turn ourselves over to God.

But dare I say that we have not worshiped until we have given ourselves to God. Worship is the total commitment of the total person for the total life. Anything less is not genuine worship. Real worship is not merely the offering of elaborate prayers to God. Neither is it inspiring liturgy or splendid ritual. Nor is it making large donations. Nor is it singing majestic songs of praise, or listening to sermons. Real worship happens when we confess sin, turn from that sin, and then offer ourselves completely and wholeheartedly to God.

Would people dare not give themselves wholeheartedly when they encountered the presence of God? Would they not fall at his feet giving him their all, if they were caught up in his splendor and holiness? Would  they not put their whole selves in, if they felt the love and power of God Almighty?

Are you ready to put your whole self into the arms of God? Are you ready to commit your all to Jesus? Worship is the free offering of ourselves to God; ever renewed, because ever imperfect. It expresses the consciousness that we are His. yet we have not duly passed into his hand. Commitment is the giving of all one knows of himself to all one knows of God. Anything less than total commitment is unacceptable to God. Commitment is different from interest. A man may be interested in a thing, but may not be committed to it. Commitment is doing everything God has placed before you as if there would never be a second chance. Whatever your hands finds to do, do it with every sense of commitment …and you will be blessed (Eccl. 9:10).

Wishing you the whole blessing that comes from wholly committing yourself to His glorious service.

Your brother, friend and Pastor

            Clement Iwuoha