Living while Dying at the same time...
In Romans 12:2, the Apostle Paul implores the believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is holy and pleasing to God, as an act of reasonable service. This verse has often been viewed as perplexing because it presents the challenge of being both alive and dead simultaneously, raising questions about how to truly offer God our reasonable service.
For many years, I interpreted this passage as a simple exhortation: "I urge you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is the least you can do." However, after dedicating time to understand the concept of "reasonable service" through research, I realized that Paul's message was not one of simplicity. Instead, he called the community of believers to Die, Serve, and Worship. Let me explain this further.
When Paul states, "I urge you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice," he implies that self-denial comes at a cost, which is why he emphasizes God's mercy. He understood that this would be a challenging directive. To offer oneself as a sacrifice means one must be prepared to die to personal desires while simultaneously living in a manner that pleases God and prompts others to seek salvation. It is essential to remember that God desires us to be in a position where others can see us and ask, “How can I be saved?”
The phrase "holy and acceptable unto God" adds another layer to the idea of living while being dead to self. It is vital to periodically engage in self-examination. In our journey with Christ, we may sometimes become overly confident in our perceived alignment with God, believing we are living freely and righteously. However, the truth may be that we are not living in a way that is holy and acceptable to Him. God calls us to be holy because He is holy; His holiness should not be mistaken for mere outward appearances but should reflect a lifestyle. Thus, our daily conduct must align with what we profess as acceptable to God.
Finally, the phrase "which is your reasonable service" highlights Paul's true intention. The term "reasonable service" translates to "proper worship." This revelation deepens our understanding: our lifestyle and everyday walk with Christ should be viewed as our form of proper worship. We must ask ourselves if our daily actions are acceptable to God. Does our lifestyle reflect worship? Do our thoughts honor God? Our reasonable service encompasses our life's actions as a form of worship. How are you worshiping the Father today? Are you presenting a life that He deems good, or are you offering a life that does not contribute to His eternal glory?
In conclusion, I encourage you to reflect on and redefine what worshiping God looks like in your life. Worship is not solely about raising hands, speaking in tongues, or spending long hours in private devotion; it is about how we interact and present ourselves to others. Are we attracting people to Christ or driving them away? How is your reasonable service?
-Pastor Sid