We often think of “worship” as the prayers we say, or the songs we sing — or perhaps even the “heart” behind them. And there is some truth to those ideas. But Romans 12:1 should cause many of us to expand our idea of what “worship” includes.

The verse reads: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

The last phrase of this verse indicates that what the verse commands is our “spiritual service of worship.” But just what is it that this “spiritual service of worship” consists of?  “To present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice”. No “words.” No “songs.” Not even a “heart attitude” is mentioned here in this description of “worship.” Rather the “spiritual worship” consists of making your body holy before God.

This almost runs counter to the way many of us regard worship, or our bodies.  We think of “worship” as an “inner, spiritual” kind of thing. And almost as if what we do with our physical bodies doesn’t matter to God. But Romans 12:1 tells us otherwise. What you do with your body matters. God wants you to present it to Him as a holy sacrifice on His altar of worship.

It reminds us that worship is much more than mere words.