"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:1,2 (NLT)
Everywhere around us, there are people who tell us that we can act just the world - because we have liberty in Christ. We are no longer under the Jewish Law (given by Moses), so, in essence, "Live it up!"
I believe that these verses in Romans tell us to live higher than that. We need to honor God with our bodies, with our speech, with our thoughts, with our behaviors. If we don't, how will anyone know that we have been transformed, from sinful humans to forgiven and changed believers?
One way to give our bodies to God is to use them in service for Him. Find ways to serve others with the ultimate goal of showing them who Christ is - a loving and merciful Saviour.
Pray that your speech will honor God. The book of James has tons to say about how we dishonor Him with loose speech.
- Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. James 3:5-9 (NKJV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:25-31 (NIV)
1 comment:
amen great post today. I have been working very hard in the service area lately. I really believe we are better for it.
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