Holy and Pleasing Worship

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”           —Romans 12:1

I have always been inspired by heroic stories whether they are in the Bible, movies, or real life. The British movie, Chariots of Fire, portrays Eric Liddell, a college athlete and Christian. Liddell was a son of Chinese missionaries and a very fast runner. He told his sister and ministry co-worker, “Jenny, I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast and when I run I feel His pleasure.”

Liddell competed in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He was slated to run the 100 meter dash and join his fellow Englishmen in the 4 X 100 and 4 X 400 relays. Because some preliminary heats were on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, Liddell refused to run. He withdrew from the 100 meter dash, his best event, and from the relays. He did, however, win a bronze medal in the 200 meter race and gold in the 400 meter race. Before running the 400 meter, not his best event, a paper was given to him that quoted 1 Samuel 2:30, “Those who honor me I will honor.”

One of my favorite scriptures and powerful description of worship is Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” A living sacrifice to me is someone who surrenders their life, talent, time, and will to the Lord to be used as God chooses. Further on, Romans 12 urges Christians to consider who they are in Christ and how the Holy Spirit has gifted them for service. Eric Liddell knew God created him for a purpose but also knew God created him to run. By running Liddell glorified God.

The movie does not tell the entire story. After winning medals in the 1924 Olympics, Liddell gave his life in missionary service in China from 1925-1943. He died in February of 1945 at the age of 43 in an internment camp five months before liberation. While in the camp, Liddell taught the children and organized the distribution of food and medicine that were in short supply.

In his last letter to his wife, written on the day he died, Liddell wrote that he was suffering a nervous breakdown due to overwork. He actually died from an inoperable brain tumor. Overwork and malnourishment probably hastened his death. In 2008 near the time of the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese authorities revealed that Liddell had refused an opportunity to leave the camp insisting a pregnant woman take his place. The news of his act of sacrifice came as a complete surprise to his family members.

We have been uniquely created and gifted by God. Holy, God-pleasing worship involves surrendering our talents and gifts to God to be used in blessing others. Each of us has been made for a purpose. We have special God-given gifts that make us best in some particular area. Surrender is not merely giving God our best efforts, but allowing God to use what the Spirit has given us for His glory. If Eric Liddell would have competed and won all his best events, people may have simply thought, Eric is very fast. But because he competed and won in races he was not expected to win, people gave glory to God.

True worshippers acknowledge our Lord’s gifts in their lives and give themselves totally to God’s purposes. Will you allow God to be glorified in your earthly body? Will you become the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and hurting world? This is acceptable and pleasing to God.