Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 353

December 18;   Romans 12:1;   129/260(II);   ‘Our Reasonable Service’

 Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

This verse very clearly teaches how important it is for us to willingly give of ourselves to serve Jesus.  Much of what is taught in schools and colleges, is based on what a world that is alienated and opposed to the Lord, believes.  At this point in time, the Bible is not allowed in schools in most of America.  Much that the movie and television industry produce are mindless, violent, immoral and demonic.  I am not saying this to be negative.  What I am saying, is that we as Christians believe and have the only answer to life that makes any sense.  That is Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  Knowing that even though it was different when Paul was alive and ministering, it is easy to see that he felt the same way about the importance of Christians doing their part.  First, Paul is literally pleading with Christians to be willing to do their part to save a lost and deceived world.  Next, ‘by the mercies of God’ means that the Lord will help you do your part if you choose to serve Him.  Third, a sacrifice gives its life unwillingly.  We give our lives willingly, as a living sacrifice.  We tell the Lord to use us, our time, our giftings and our Christ like character.  Serving Jesus is holy and it is acceptable to the Lord because it is so important.  Finally, Paul tells us that this is our reasonable service.  The Lord Jesus, because of His great love for us and desire that we be with Him eternally, suffered as no one else ever did or ever could.  In the light of the price the Lord Jesus paid, Paul, by the Holy Spirit says that serving the Lord, doing everything we can to reach others for Jesus, is our reasonable service.