Before The Lord

In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the LORD. – Exodus 27:21, CSB

It’s the three words at the end of that verse that made me stop this morning as I spent time with the Lord.

“… before the LORD.”

Why? Because it made me wonder how much of my life is spent doing things for the Lord and, with the Lord’s help, without keeping in mind that everything I do is supposed to be worship unto the Lord, but it’s before the Lord. In other words, how would my life look different today if I remembered that every word, thought, or deed is done in worship before the Lord, that He sees everything, hears everything, and knows everything that I do? Am I even aware that I am doing these things before the Lord?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. – Romans 12:1, CSB

Stop and think about it. Paul reminds us, as he did the Christians in Rome in the first century, that our true worship is not simply singing songs or reading the Bible. As important as those things are, our true worship is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. I am supposed to present my body and everything that I do with it—in word, thought, and deed—as a fragrant offering to the Lord, living my life in sacrificial worship before him. Therefore, I should strive with everything in me, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, to live today and every day hereafter, remembering that the Lord is with me, that the Lord empowers me and helps me, and that my offering to Him of myself in all that I do and say is done while in the presence of God. It’s done before the Lord.

So, how will today look different for you? How will it look different for me? If I truly walk today in humble obedience and worship of Jesus, recognizing His presence with me in everything, how will my life look different? What words will I speak to people and about people? What words will I refrain from using for opinions, from sharing in honor of the Lord? What acts of love will I do without desire for attention to myself, but all glory going to Jesus? How will I love my wife? How will I love my sons? How will I serve and care for those that God has entrusted to me as a shepherd? How will I truly love those who do not love me in return? How will I love and care for those without knowledge or a relationship with God through Jesus? What will I spend my time doing? Will I be intentional with my time, or will I waste it on things that don’t matter?

May we all, in true worship and gratefulness before God, live our lives in such a way that we know, and it is obvious to others, that we do all things before the Lord.

To God be the glory!