THE PRESENTING OF SELF The 12th chapter of Romans is a special reading for me. I regard it as a favorite.. The key verse is in the beginning words: “I appeal to you brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as living sacrifices.” Here is the hard part. It is not easy. The flesh fights against every spiritual part of us. Our dear Lord expressed it like this: “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”— Matthew 26:41. The apostle Paul struggled with it, too: “I find that when I would do good, evil is present”—Romans 7:21. As Christians, we struggle. Life is not that easy. If it’s not one thing—its something else! The flesh is weak! So, what is the answer? Paul says: “Present your body as a living sacrifice.” Notice, first: “A Living Sacrifice.” God wants us “ALIVE FROM THE DEAD.” So to be a sacrifice does not necessarily mean that we must die the martyrs death, but it does mean that we are to take up the cross daily. Paul even said: “I die daily”—I Corinthians 15:31. It means that our life is surrendered to God! So the 12th chapter of Romans gives the answer: 1. We are not to be of this world (that is we are not to engage in worldly things), verse 2 2. We are to be humble. The Spirit says that we are not to “think more highly of ourselves than we should,” verse 3. 3. We are to love the brethren, verses: 9, 10. The term here is one of endearment. It says that we are to have “brotherly affection.” 4. We are to “overcome evil with good,” verses: 17-21. We are not to treat others with revenge. Even when we are treated in an ill manner we return good for evil. Always remember the words of Christ: “Forgive them, they know not what they do.” See why I love the 12th chapter of Romans? Do yourself a favor. Read this chapter from beginning to end. Once you have done that: close your eyes and think about what you have read. See what I mean? Won’t this make you a better person? “The Word of God is a lamp to our path. Through the Word of God I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104, 105). Come To Christ!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 19:48:52 +0000
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