I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
WHEW!!! That's a whole lot of meat up in that verse. First Paul says in view of all the mercies of God present your bodies asliving sacrifices. Selah. We could stop right there. What has God done for you since you accepted His Son as Saviour? Peace, protection, provision, vision, fresh forgiveness? God is saying in view of all that I have done and continue to do for you all I ask is that you present to Me, your bodies as a living sacrifice. He doesn't want to have to go round us up like wild horses into the corral. He wants us to come and serve Him, and love Him freely. This presenting reminds me of going to church on Sunday. We get up, get dressed, go and serve in some cases. WHY? Because we love Him and we want to present ourselves before Him. Now here goes the living sacrifice part. Praise and Worship. Does the worship leader have to prime the pump to get you to worship your Heavenly Father? I should hope not...in view of all His mercies. Here the Father is asking us to present ourselves LIVING sacrifices! In the temple those animals being offered up were lively! They had some life in them and that's what God wants out of our reasonable service to Him too! PASSION!!! There is no sacrifice as stale as someone doing something for the LORD with no fire in their belly.
It is hard to offer anything genuine up to the LORD with passion if it has not been seasoned in holiness. A lamb without blemish is what used to be offered up. Jesus has now become our sanctification and we have our part in that as well. It's called dying to flesh. Fully acceptable to the LORD is what God requires which is our reasonable service. God could have put so many demands on us in view of all His mercies, but He didn't. His requests are reasonable, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This week as you live as LIVELY sacrifices unto the LORD rejoice and move with passion in holiness. That's an acceptable sacrifice to the LORD.
♥~~~~~~~~~~♥~~~~~~~~~~♥
Prayer for Everyone
God Bless You
No comments:
Post a Comment