As a part of my own personal daily devotions I try to journal a little bit on a verse from the Bible. My source for this is Bible Gateway's website's "Verse of the Day." I try to do this daily but sometimes I get behind.
But since I've been doing this for well over a year I have quite a few that I can share. So anyway that's the plan. I will try to share some of my journaling every day. If I keep on top of things it will be the day before. So today, October 30, 2022 I am sharing what I wrote yesterday, October 29.
So what follows are my reflections from yesterday.
October 29 Romans 12:1 A Living Sacrifice
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
In the verses immediately preceding this one Paul is speaking about how unsearchable are the ways of God, that is to say we do not, cannot understand the mysteries of God's love, grace and mercy. Yet it is because of these things that I am saved.
Among the things that cannot be understood would be the words of Jesus in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life."
Now I understand the words, what they say, and what they teach. What I don't understand is the depth of such love for me. I know that I would not be willing to sacrifice my child or grandchild for the sake of someone who was my enemy. But that is what God has done. Saint Paul writes in Romans five, "God shows his love for us in this while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
But because God has such love for me Paul now is urging me to offer up myself as a living sacrifice to God. That is to say that by faith I am to live to God, I am to love him and to love my neighbor just as God has loved me. I am called to a life of service. That is my living sacrifice for God, to God, not in order to gain salvation because that is already mine in Christ, but rather as a thank offering for all that God has done for me in Christ.
I confess however something else I don't quite understand here.
That is the reference "spiritual worship". It would seem to me that all worship is spiritual, but it is also active. I know that is what is happening in divine service, we are God comes to us in his word and sacrament and where we respond to God with his word also. In this way we receive the gifts he has promised. It is a taste of heaven with God forgives our sins, feeds us with his own body and blood, and equips us to go out into the world to share his love. It is only then that we go out, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
Lord grant me grace, by the power of your holy word and sacrament, to present myself, my body, as a living sacrifice; showing your love for me and for all people to loving service. In Jesus name. Amen.
Comments