Romans 12:1-2 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. And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Over the past few days, I've been discussing the will of God and
how to walk out His will daily in our lives. The Lord's general will
involves the development of our character and the ways in which we relate
to Him and to our fellow man. Much of this is the same for every believer.
But each of us is unique, and each has a potential life vision unlike any
other. God has an individual will for every soul that belongs to Him, an
individually shaped destiny which varies according to our gifting and
calling and purpose in His Body.
Not every believer knows or even desires to walk fully in that
vision, calling, or destiny. At times we may try to think about or shape a
vision for our lives, but the scripture says that we ought to be
able to test and approve what is God's good, pleasing, and perfect
will. How do we do this?
First, Paul urges that we offer our bodies as a living
sacrifice. What does this mean? It means that we make a conscious
decision to devote our entire lives to the Lord, holding nothing back, to
give ourselves to Him without reservation. The Old Testament sacrifices
were animals which were totally offered to God and usually were burned on
the altar in fire. Their aroma was pleasing to Him, as their flesh was
consumed by the fire. As living sacrifices, we remain alive... but given
over, as though we were burning on His altar. Our life is not our own, but
is devoted to His purpose and pleasure. This is a conscious decision, a
choice which every believer is urged to make. The Lord is then free to
shape our lives, our experiences, our discipline, according to His perfect
will and purposes for the best possible result.
Paul expands on this decisive act of devotion, saying we
must not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of our mind. So the act of devoting our life to
Him involves a decisive renunciation of the ways of thinking and the values
of this present world. (Much could be said about this.) And it also
involves a process of renewing our thoughts and values according to the
thoughts and values of our Lord. These, then, are the conditions which the
apostle gives that we may be able to test and approve what is God's
good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.
It's often said that "God has a
wonderful plan for your life." To me that has always sounded a bit
"robotic", as though I were a rat who needed to find His way through the
maze of some "Cosmic Scientist". But now I know that God's "plan" for me is
anything but mechanical. Rather, it involves the profound realities of my
unique individuality; things that He has placed in me and no one else, such
that He can beautifully express Himself through my life, my personality, my
gifts, relationships, and unique position in the world. Indeed, it is a
"wonderful plan". But in order for Him to shape this destiny, He requires
my unreserved consent, my offering... of MY BODY, a LIVING SACRIFICE. (George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah)
Laudetur Jesus Christus! From Jarrow's Tower: "Glorious St Bede Pray That We May Praise God For All Eternity" For God Our Lady And Saint Bede! A Voice And Springboard For Promoting Catholic Orthodoxy, Tradition, Truth And Christian Principles In South Tyneside! That The Voice Of Peter In The Person Of The Supreme Sovereign Roman Pontiff May Be Heard In These Uncertain Times: Tu Es Petrus!
18 October 2012
Afternoon Thoughts-Offer your body!:
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