In The Word
Read: Romans 12
Dedicated Service
12 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
As we continue in the Book of Romans, Paul started to focus more on the practicality of the Christian walk of faith. Paul started by concluding that due to the great and divine love that granted us a way of salvation, we should present ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God. A sacrifice that was acceptable in the old covenant was made so by God’s standards, not according to what the person offering it decided. The same is true today in our spiritual service of worship as we offer ourselves to God. The second verse tells us what is good, acceptable, and perfect to God, which is not being conformed to this world, but allowing our minds to be renewed by Him.
Paul also explained that we are members of the body of Christ, which is the church. As members, we shouldn’t look down on others, but realize that we are not all the same and that we all operate with different gifts. It takes all of us serving in our gifts to fully operate as the body of Christ.
Studies suggest that roughly 20% of the church as a whole is engaged and serving in the body. That means 80% of the people are not offering their whole lives as a living sacrifice. I encourage you today, if you are not serving as a member of the body of Christ, then get engaged and plugged in. God has given you gifts and talents to use for His glory and purposes. Don’t sit on the sidelines any longer. Jesus is wanting to put you in the game; you just need to stand up and let Him know.