MY LIFE IS AN OFFERING TO GOD

Philippians 2:17-18 says, "But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy." God created us to worship Him in the beginning. He designed us to have fellowship with Him and enjoy His presence; however, when sin entered into our lives, we were all separated from God. Thus, God instituted offerings in the Old Testament to bring us near to Him through animal sacrifices and to remind us that our lives are about worshipping Him. Paul described his life as a liquid or drink offering to God, which he meant that his life was about worshipping him, so no matter whether he lived or died, he rejoiced because it was all about worshipping God, and not him. In the Old Testament liquid or drink offering was offered to God during the animal sacrifices, symbolizing that the animal sacrifice was dedicated to God. In the same manner, the faithful service of the Philippian believers was an offering to God; as a result, Paul wanted them to share his joy in worshipping God with their lives.

Our Lord Jesus offered His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins so that He could bring us back to God. He cleansed us spiritually and became an acceptable offering to God. As a result, our lives are restored to worship Him in all that we are. Our lives are not meant to be lived out by our own desires, but our lives are to be lived out to worship God. So no matter what happens in our lives, whether through rejoicing or suffering, we worship God with our lives. Paul was able to rejoice while he was suffering in house arrest because he knew what his life was all about. His life was about doing God's plan in His life as his act of worship. Our faithful service to God, doing whatever He puts in our hearts, is an act of worship to Him; therefore, we rejoice in whatever situation we are in. The more we understand that our existence is for His worship, the more stable our lives become in any situation, thus leading us to rejoice in the Lord.

Our joy comes from worshipping God. When our hearts are right before God and worshipping Him in everything that we do, we experience God's peace in our hearts, thus it leads us to rejoice in whatever circumstances we are in. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What does it mean that my life is an offering to God? Have I considered myself that I am an offering to God? How can I rejoice in every situation that I have? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, In a world that encourages people to pursue whatever feels good or makes sense to them, help me to focus instead on worshiping you in all that I do. You created me to be an offering in worship of you. Please renew the way I think and change my heart to be aligned with your Word. Please help me to worship you in everything that I do today. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.