Sweet Tea and Sacrifice: When Worship Gets Real

In Wednesday night Bible Study this past week, we studied chapters 2 and 3 of Phillipians. What a great study with a great group of people. If you don’t have a regular Bible Study, I invite you to One Way on Wednesdays nights at 7:00. You will make some new friends and definitely be blessed!

I am constantly challenged by the scripture where Paul makes reference to being poured out like a drink offering. The two references are listed below:

Philippians 2: 17  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.

2 Timothy 4: 6  As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.  7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.  8  And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

I often pray and ask God to help me be a pleasing sacrifice for his glory. How am I being poured out? Am I honoring God in every way? I hope that my life will be lived in such a way that I am all used up when God calls me home. I pray that nothing is left on the table.

The drink offering is a real thing founded in Old Testament scripture. Wine poured out on the altar meant total surrender and joy in worship. For those of you who know me, know that I love worship. Being a lover of music in the first place, it is easy to get lost during a time of intimate worship. I can spend hours in worship and drawing near to God. Romans 12: 1 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. A modern translation suggests that presenting our bodies in this way is our act of worship.

Surrender, on the other hand, presents a challenge to me many times. I am often selfish and rebellious. Paul’s life was one of complete surrender. A model for anyone. The wine being poured out to God symbolizes our best effort to present our best to God without trying to take it back. I am afraid we often do that. We get caught up in the hype of a great worship service and promise God everything – only to find ourselves quickly retracting our promises when Monday morning comes.

Ouch!

The other day I made a terrible, awful mistake. At breakfast I had started my morning with a cup of homemade sweet tea. So good! I did not finish the drink. Later in the day, I came back through the kitchen and saw the Yeti containing the tea. I walked over, grabbed the cup and took a big swig. As I took the swig, my eye caught two flies that had gotten trapped in the Yeti. They had sacrificed their lives long ago for a little sugar. I was so grossed out when I realized I had drunk from the fly infested cup.

Yuck!

I realize that often what is being poured out in my life is not my best. I have become stale, lukewarm, and contaminated by sin. Yet I often ignore that I am only offering a second-hand, half-hearted offering. There may be no surrender or sacrifice involved. Does that ever happen to you?

Would you join me in committing and/or recommitting yourself to being poured out as a drink offering that is worthy for a King – the King of Glory?!

Join us Sunday mornings for bible study at 9:30 am and our worship service at 11:00 am! To learn more about One Way Ministries, go to www.onewaydamascus.org