Just finished L’abri by Edith Schaeffer, a book that recalls the first years of L’abri a community in Switzerland dedicated to the serious academic study of arts and theology by true seekers. In Chapter 18: English L’Abri is born, Deirdre makes a powerful point from Biblical Theology that struck me regarding worship:
‘”Look, Linette,” I had said, “Here’s a very simple line drawing I often make on a scrap of paper, from beginning to end:’
(really hope this little graphic worked, couldn’t find it displayed anywhere online)
…”They (Cain and Able), were told immediately of One who would be coming, someone who would be born of a woman who would have victory over the ‘serpent’ or Satan. WE also know that they knew something of coming to God with a lamb, used as a sacrifice. Abel brought a lamb…All through the Old Testament communication and worship took place with a lamb being presented. Noah worshipped with a lamb, Abraham brought the lamb, Moses told the children of Israel to prepare the lamb at the time of the passover.” Of course Jesus is also referred to as the Lamb of God.
Now what struck me was this, that the first murder happened directly after worship. Is it any surprise that there is still so much chaos and glory surround our worship today? Able and Cain’s conflict spurred out of a worship dispute. I also know now that a desire for worship in spirit and truth is a good one, and should drive us in decisions related to church.
Web Theologian 
This post really got me thinking:
#1. That is a great diagram. #2 I think of Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our whole lives should be an act of worship, from our hearts meditations to our conduct. Since the sacrifice of Christ is once and for all, we “worship” the “Lamb” Himself by reflecting his life and being made into his likeness.
One of Satan’s strategies is to allure us into conforming to the world, to compromise and to hopefully prevent our lives from being a living sacrifice.
The lamb typology is overwhelming, but I forget sometimes it begins much earlier (with Abel) than I first think, which makes the arrow that points to Jesus that much bolder.
Total side note: nice to see you on WordPress. 🙂
Chevas,
Feel like I entered high school with WordPress, live it much better. The whole life, taking it beyond just Sunday is important. Able had a lamb to bring, did Cain? We must have the lamb as we enter into Jesus.
Brining up the conforming to the world brings up lots for me. There is the living for the world that is clear, simply not having priorities in the correct order #1 God, #2 Family, #3 Work. Any other mix of those you have a mess. Now there are other things related to conforming to the world that Christians are fighting wars over that I’m still wrestling through.