A month of studies from Romans 12
A servant is not listed as the favourite occupation in the world, but often in serving we learn important lessons for the future. It is certainly the task that blesses others the most, often unnoticed. But The Lord sees everything, and He will reward us as we become Living sacrifices.
Some churches really encourage people to speak out what they are hearing from God. In others it is important to be in a position of leadership before being allowed to speak out. While in others there is no-one other than the priest or pastor saying anything during a service.
Does Grace in this verse suggest that God gives us good manners? Or that He Himself always behaved well? Jesus was very ungracious to the Pharisees, and overturned the tables of those who used the house of God for their own purposes. There must be more to it than that!
People not having the same function is true of every organisation, whether it be family, business, social group, sport, or church. The main idea behind most organisations is that we work together for the good of all. Sadly this idea has been abused in much of the world throughout history.
Many of us are wrong, but in the opposite direction. We think of ourselves as a nobody really having very little effect in the world around us. God loves us, but we can not do anything to change His world, we just try to be good and not upset anyone.
God told us in the commandments to love Him with all our mind, heart, soul and strength. If we really took renewing our minds seriously we would never have time to think about anything else and would do as Jesus did, only do what we see the Father doing.
The only way to change is to have our minds renewed, and the only way to do that is to spend time with Jesus, our Father God and the Holy Spirit. Regularly being in the presence of someone for long periods of time changes us to do things their way.
The last phrase in this verse is interesting. Many Christians today when asked what worship is would say singing songs of adoration to God or maybe what happens on Sunday morning in their church. But not according to Paul! True and proper worship is what we do with our bodies.
This chapter has always been one which challenges and also encourages me. None of us want to be sacrifices, it brings up thoughts of animals being laid on an altar to be killed. But be encouraged by the word LIVING in the first verse of our chapter for the month.
These verses make me stop in my tracks and wonder how I dare to be so familiar with this God of the universe. How dare I demand from Him the things I do? But Jesus fulfilled His destiny in order to allow us to have direct access to Father God.
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