Romans 12: 1 – 8
My father was a veteran of WWII. I tell you this as a set up because he tried to instill in me what it meant to be in the service, to sacrifice myself for something greater than me, and what it was like to follow a code of conduct.
I of course was too busy trying to be a hippy to listen to him. I didn’t have time for all this service to country stuff; I was a Baby Boomer, not some kind of government sponsored robot why should I sacrifice my lifestyle for my country?
Then one day I did it. I sucked it up and at twenty two years of age, I walked into a recruitment office for the United States Air force. I was at the end of my rope, I was out of work, drinking way more than I should, and I figured that I could use the discipline to help straighten up. I was rejected, but, that is a story for another time.
I’m not sure that the point of this story matches up to what Paul is saying here, other than to introduce the discipline needed to follow a code of conduct, but, this is what he’s talking about here.
Step out of your comfort zone and don’t follow the crowd.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Following Christ is not an easy thing to do, it’s a challenge. It’s the only sacrificial thing that I know of that sets you free. It’s what we call, in the halls of 12 step recovery, an
My father was a veteran of WWII. I tell you this as a set up because he tried to instill in me what it meant to be in the service, to sacrifice myself for something greater than me, and what it was like to follow a code of conduct.
I of course was too busy trying to be a hippy to listen to him. I didn’t have time for all this service to country stuff; I was a Baby Boomer, not some kind of government sponsored robot why should I sacrifice my lifestyle for my country?
Then one day I did it. I sucked it up and at twenty two years of age, I walked into a recruitment office for the United States Air force. I was at the end of my rope, I was out of work, drinking way more than I should, and I figured that I could use the discipline to help straighten up. I was rejected, but, that is a story for another time.
I’m not sure that the point of this story matches up to what Paul is saying here, other than to introduce the discipline needed to follow a code of conduct, but, this is what he’s talking about here.
Step out of your comfort zone and don’t follow the crowd.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Following Christ is not an easy thing to do, it’s a challenge. It’s the only sacrificial thing that I know of that sets you free. It’s what we call, in the halls of 12 step recovery, an
AWOL (Another way of life).
I’ve said before that Salvation ain’t for wimps, and here is where the rubber meets the road. Paul has given us a set of instructions to follow; kinda like “Christianity for Dummies”, laying out what it is we need to do to begin our new life.
Here is my heart, Lord Jesus,I have but one for Thee;
I’ve said before that Salvation ain’t for wimps, and here is where the rubber meets the road. Paul has given us a set of instructions to follow; kinda like “Christianity for Dummies”, laying out what it is we need to do to begin our new life.
Here is my heart, Lord Jesus,I have but one for Thee;
Oh, let my heart be Thine alone,
Thy will be done in me. —Mick
A life given fully to God is at the heart of true sacrifice.
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