Submission and Worship Gods Will or Mine

What does it truly mean to worship God? This powerful message by Barry Leatherman challenges us to examine two critical questions as we begin a new year: How fully are we submitting to God's will for our lives, and how committed are we to genuinely worshiping Almighty God? Drawing from Romans 12:1, we're called to present our bodies as living sacrifices—not the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, but our very lives yielded completely to Christ. The Greek word 'parakaleo' used by Paul means to come beside and call, strongly exhorting us to give ourselves entirely to God. This isn't just Sunday morning worship; it's a seven-day-a-week transformation. We see inspiring examples throughout Scripture: Luke the physician who left his medical practice, the fishermen who dropped their nets, and ultimately Jesus himself in Gethsemane saying 'not my will, but thine be done.' The challenge is profound: Would our coworkers know we're Christians? Does the world see us shining with God's love? True worship means fearing and respecting God as Creator of the universe, recognizing that everything we have comes from Him, and loving others created in His image. It means examining our hearts for the idols we've created—whether careers, possessions, or even sports heroes—and asking ourselves honestly: What is our level of commitment, submission, obedience, and love for God? This isn't about performance or entertainment; it's about giving glory to the sovereign God who keeps the earth spinning and holds the universe together.