In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul writes, 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.
In contrast to the slain sacrifices offered according to the law, we are to present our bodies living sacrifices to God. One way of doing this is as Paul indicates in Colossians 3:5, Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
See also verse eight,But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Our behavior should indicate that we have been changed by the inward working of the Holy Spirit. The nature of man is depraved, not an ounce of goodness in us at all, not even a spark, but if we have been regenerated by the Spirit of God then as Peter writes in II Peter 1:3, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…
we now have the ability to live a godly life. We still have the corrupt nature in us, but we are called upon by the Lord to mortify its deeds daily.
We are to pick up our crosses and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to deny ourselves sinful pleasures, we are to choose rather the reproaches of Christ, than to enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin (See Heb 11:25,26). We are to be holy. We are a people that have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him (God the Father) in love. Those that the Father chose and set apart for this holy purpose were given to Christ Jesus to atone for our sins. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary to make us a holy people. He took away all of our sins and nailed them to His cross, by His blood we are purged from all our defilement.
The Levites before they could enter into the service of God had to be cleansed from their defilement through the washing of water. This is typical of the washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit. When a child of God is born again the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is applied to us, the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us, we are made different, a change has occurred. Now we have been equipped for holy service.
God has said in His word that we are to be holy for He is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Notice the exhortation of Peter in his first epistle chapter one and verse fourteen, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.
Our behavior should indicate to others the inward change that God has made in us by His Spirit. This service of self denial is acceptable unto God and is what He expects. With all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us, the wonderful salvation that He has wrought in saving us from our sins, and even His gracious providence everyday of our lives, should not this be enough motivation to pursue a life of holiness before our Lord Jesus Christ?
Let us examine our lives looking at what we do each day weighing our actions and thoughts to what the Lord has said in His word. Is what we are doing pleasing or acceptable unto Him? If the Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto us in bodily form what would we be your response to these questions? Would we ask Him to have a seat as we watch the TV programs we watch each day? Would we invite Him to listen to the various songs we listen to on the radio? Would we read to Him the books we are reading? If the answer to any of these questions is “no” then we need to repent right now!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is the true and living God. He is omnipresent!! There is nowhere that He is not. He is with you when you watch these programs, He is with you when you listen to these songs on the radio!! He is with you when you are reading these books.
Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. It is truly our reasonable service.
In His love and mercy,
Elder Shannon Whipp