Worship = Surrender

The Titanic. A massive, mighty ship. The unsinkable. At 882 feet long and 175 feet high, it weighed over 46,000 tons and could carry 3,500 people. It displaced over 52,000 tons of water. It was a floating fortress of steel. Basically… ridiculously huge. On April 14th, 1912 it sent out on its maiden voyage and everyone was so excited because it was so big and amazing and yay! On April 15th it sank. We all know the story. An iceberg, shadowed by night, tore into her and sank her. What you might not know is that only about 10% of icebergs are above the surface of water. It’s the reason this robust ship sank. The iceberg probably didn’t even flinch!

Wait, what the heck?? This blog is titled “worship” not “icebergs.” No, I’m not an iceberg expert. That’d be a boring blog. Think of icebergs in terms of worship. While an iceberg is nearly 90% beneath the surface, the same is with worship. What comes to mind? Music? Singing? That is definitely a form of worship, but it only scratches the surface! Worship isn’t the songs we sing as much it is the lives we live. It’s not a religious thing, or Christian thing… Worship is embedded in human nature. We all do it. Music, sports, money, pleasure…Jack Bauer? What do you worship?

Think of a rock concert. Think of your favorite band playing. You’re among tons of people crammed into the Crystal Ballroom (but you definitely are in front). You’re screaming as the lead guitarist shreds a ridiculous solo. The bass is thumping in your chest. The lead singer belts out an ear piercing note, “YYYEEAAAAAAAAA.” Fans are screaming, arms are raised, rock fists are up high… Your favorite band rooocks.

Think of Sunday morning, or Wednesday night. It’s time to praise your God. A God who is set apart from anything you could ever imagine. So big, he created thousands of (discovered) stars that make up galaxies that are trillions and trillions and TRILLIONS of miles wide. An all powerful, glorious, triumphant, indescribable creator of life. Maker of everything you know, and do not know. And yet, despite the fact that we reject Him daily…He longs to be with you. So where is your heart when singing to God?

Genesis 22. I dare you to read this story and ponder. After a long long long looong road of being tested and promised, God finally provided Abraham with a son. But then! Abe is told by God to take his only son up a mountain and sacrifice him. What?! What does Abe do?! In verse 3 he obeys. Why? Because Mr. Abe trusts God. He even has his head held high (verse 4). No moping about! In verse 5 & 6 we read the first time worship is mentioned in the bible.

“He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’
Abraham took the sound system, the guitars, and drums as they rehearsed the…” Wait…no, no that’s not right. No mention of music at all...

“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together…” What’d they take to worship? Wood, fire, and a knife. Yep.

Verse 12. “'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.'" Abe was willing to give God the very thing he loved the most. God wants all of you, laid bare on the alter.

Check out Romans 12:1, one of my all time favorite verses. Read it. What the heck is a living sacrifice? HA! It’s you! It’s your sin. It’s your pleasure. It’s your fun, your grades, your friends, your home life, car, money, boyfriend, girlfriend…Everything! When we surrender to God, amazing and incredible things start to happen. I’ll put a little emphasis for you. “…In view of God's MEEERRRRCYYYYY, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” Grace is amazing. Like, really amazing. Think of the complete brokenness of man. The only thing we’ve got going for us is the ability to screw up. But God's grace is infinite. Take a romantic relationship for example. Who cares what God thinks. I’m going to have sex because I love this person and it feels soooo right. WRONG. It’s only going to lead to more pain and suffering down the road because it’s outside of what God wants for you. Sure, your way will be fun for a week, a month, maybe even a few years. But ultimately, it's going to lead nowhere.

It’s interesting, though. Those little living sacrifices sometimes get up and crawl off that alter… 1 Corinthians 15:31 says “I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In other words.. YEA! You’re going to screw up. This is a daily battle! But goodness gracious is it worth it! This is living life.. life that is truly life. This is joy. This is purpose, meaning, and hope. So what does surrender look like?

Doesn’t it suck to wake up in the morning? Early? Yea, but that’s surrendering your body. Waking up, when the day is new, before anything can clog your head and reading God’s word. That is surrender. Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend who is a non-believer. Inviting someone to youth group who doesn’t know Jesus. Volunteering, tithing, confessing a sin. These are all forms of surrender!

Worship is not defined by music. Music, and singing, and praising is the outpouring to what God is doing in our lives. When we submit to Him, when we experience true joy, then we praise!