Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
The late Sam Shoemaker stated, "To be a Christian means to give as much of myself as I can to as much of Jesus Christ as I know."
The plea of Paul to the Christians in Rome was to consider that God's great mercies were worthy of our total abandon to Christ! Don't you think Paul has a great reason to give yourself to Christ totally?
I mean, consider first what God did in making you. For some, the problems of this world may make us feel like we wish that hadn't happened. But the truth is, unless you first were created by God, you could never learn how great and loving He is - even if this world is not. His mercies are new every morning. He walks with us, talks with us, and leads us in the way or righteousness - even though we deserve none of that. He calls us His children, and listens, cares, and understands better than anyone on earth can. He orders our lives to do His perfect will and to make us like His perfect Son, Jesus. Truly, God is merciful when we are most in need of it. We do not deserve His mercy, but we depend on it all the time.
Next, Paul asks us to give our bodies as a living sacrifice to God - and calls that our REASONABLE service to Him.
Hmmm. Does he mean we are to serve the Lord sacrificially? Yes. Does that mean we are to be totally in His service? Yes. Doesn't that apply only to the specially called ministers, pastors, missionaries, and full-time church workers? NO! It applies to all who are called by the gospel to faith in Christ Jesus! It applies to every believer in every day and every situation. There is none, no, not one, Christian who is exempt from this most simple, reasonable, response to the mercies of our Great God and Father in Heaven who has secured for our souls the eternal, undeserved, blessing of His presence and person.
Thank you, Lord, for Your eternal, flowing ministry of mercy to my soul. Lord, I give myself to You today as a sacrifice of self to You. Have Your way with me, do Your will through me, and work Your work in me for Your glory! In Jesus' precious name, AMEN!
Holler for Jesus,
Greg Yount
First Baptist Church of Bakersfield: http://tinyurl.com/weR4him
Light For Life Ministries: http://lightforlife.bravesites.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading my post. Add your comments. They will be reviewed by me before being posted, so if you don't want them seen by everyone, just say so in your comment. Please be respectful; I don't post comments with profanity of any kind. Look forward to hearing from you.
Pastor Greg