I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1, KJV)
I’ve read this scripture many times, as I’m sure most of us have, but this week the word ‘reasonable’ has jumped out at me. According to the Holy Spirit, devoting our whole body (and consequently our lives) to God is only REASONABLE.
If something is reasonable, then it is not extreme, unfair, or excessive, but simply expected. As a believer who has been saved by grace and given the gift of eternal life, it is only fair that we would dedicate our entire lives to God.
Our lives are no longer our own. We have been bought with a very, very high price… that price is the life of God Himself. Jesus paid for us with His own blood… WE OWE HIM EVERYTHING (1 Corinthians 7:23). A sacrifice is dead… so to be a ‘living sacrifice’ we must be dead to everything pertaining to OURSELVES. We are to sacrifice our own dreams and desire for the sake of His... YES there is no more ‘I’.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NIV)
The funny thing is, that as we draw closer to Him and His love fills us more, His desires become our desires. Because we LOVE Him we desire to do His will and advance HIS Kingdom (not or own)… It is His love for us that should motivate us to want to serve Him.
This message is just a short reminder that you’re supposed to be dead! If Jesus is your Lord HE OWNS YOU. That’s what ‘Lord’ really means, it means ADONAI, which means OWNER.
This life is not about YOU but ALL about Him… it doesn’t matter where you are placed right now, you are on assignment… HIS ASSIGNMENT. Your job is not YOUR job, it’s His. Your family is not YOUR family it’s His. Your car is not YOUR car, it’s His. Everything that you have came from Him in the first place and therefore belongs to Him. If the Holy Spirit asks you to do something, just do it… it’s His life remember? You’re just the vessel.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3, KJV)
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