Romans 12:1–Present Your Bodies to God

Romans 12:1–"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."

Christianity speaks often of devotion in spiritual terms as if worship was primarily some esoteric, mystical activity that required barely more than a willing spirit.  But this verse has something else to say.  It is a profound thing to say that our spiritual worship requires...the proper use of our bodies.

How many of us can say that we use our bodies as if they were instruments for worship?!

But this is precisely what this verse is commanding of us, that we would treat our bodies not as appendages to serve our own whims of enjoyment but as instruments of worship!

Let us commit to treat our bodies with this sort of reverence, recognizing that our bodies are to be our foremost tool for sincere worship.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19–Message of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-19–"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

Reconciliation is central to the the message of the gospel.  And the reconciliation presented by the gospel is a comprehensive one; that is, every piece of a person undergoes the process of reconciliation. In truth, once we come to Christ all that we are, each broken bit of who we are begins to be reconciled. Of course, the first area of reconciliation is a divine one as we are reconciled to God but this reconciliation does not end there.  We are also reconciled internally, as we are blessed with a peace internal.  But in addition to these we are reconciled relationally.  At the onset, it must be said that this part of reconciliation will most certainly be, at the very least, a process that will take time and patience but the promise of reconciliation remains.

We should not easily forget this that God has and is reconciling us in Christ!

Psalm 30:4–Sing Praises

Psalm 30:4–"Sing praises to the Lord, O you saints, and give thanks to His holy name."

Another day, another week.  I find it to be a good exercise and a worthy practice to begin the week with a basic reminder for praise.  This verse and those like it can serve as that reminder, pointing us in the right direction and keeping our ficus where it should be.  So, as we begin another week it might be a good idea for us all to begin like this, with praise.

Psalm 118:5-6–Comfort in Distress

Psalm 118:5-6–"Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?"

Every human who has lived or who will ever live will experience distress.  It is not outlandish to claim that distress is the human condition.  But this is but a portion of the story.  As Christians, we understand that the trials and stresses of this life are as a result of sin.  We also assert that distress and tribulation are but temporary discomforts that pale in comparison to the vast awesomeness of God and His goodness. This means, at the very least, that when we are held under the seemingly-insurmountable weight of life, that we can have a confident hope in the knowledge of God.  We can face distress with hearts solidified not because we feel so strong ourselves, on the contrary!  We understand that our confidence rests solely on the greatness of the Lord God Almighty!

Let us never, not ever forget this.

Psalm 84:1-2–My Soul Longs For Your Courts, O Lord!

Psalm 84:1-2–"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God."

There is something here about praise and perspective, but mostly this passage is about priority.  The passage, in some ways, asks and answers the question of 'what does your heart desire above all else?'

I have to honestly ask myself if I would agree that my soul longs to the point of swooning as I desire the presence of God.  But isn't that the degree and intensity of passion that this verse is addressing?  In some ways, it is a statement of pure praise, but in another sense it is a call to praise, an exhortation to a deeper devotion, if you will.

Let us take this verse under prayerful consideration as we would seek to love the Lord with every bit of our beings.

Matt. 6:19-21–Lay Up Right Treasures

Matthew 6:19-21–"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This is one of those passages that I need to go over often.  It is so direct and full but also convicting and difficult.  I would like to say that I don't ever have to deal with this, as in I never lay up earthly treasure for myself, but as it is I have to admit that I do sometimes struggle.  Perhaps the reason Jesus has to make such a clear statement about treasure is that we are so prone to striving after counterfeit treasure, that is, we are more eager for the temporal treasures that won't last than the treasures that don't. Moreover, Jesus is clear to assert that there is a direct connection between the treasure we seek and the nature of our hearts.  We would be wise to consider the content of this passage often, and as often as we do, to remember that anything other than Christ is but ash and cannot satisfy.

Matthew 5:14–You Are the Light of the World

Matthew 5:14–"You are the light of the world."

This statement by Christ is about identity.  In a real way, He is defining His believers as the light of the world.  But how can this be, considering that John calls Jesus the light of the world (John 1:9-10)? Luckily, Jesus answers this question for us.

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12)."

The point is that Christians become the light of the world through Christ.  It is by God's indwelling presence that we are transformed from people of darkness into people of the light.  Let us claim this transformed identity and live like creatures of the light in Christ!