Been thinking a lot. Just have a lot going on. A lot to consider. Not sure where the Lord wants me yet. Pretty sure it's not "here", though.
Been thinking about the passage of Romans 12:1-3 (King James Version)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
What is our "reasonable service?" According to the verse, it is to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
Let's look at some definitions by way of Webster's Dictionary 1828 :
LIV'ING, ppr. [from live.]
1. Dwelling; residing; existing; subsisting; having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead.
2. a. Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as a living spring or fountain; opposed to stagnant.
3. a. Producing action, animation and vigor; quickening; as a living principle; a living faith.
LIV'ING, n. He or those who are alive; usually with a plural signification; as in the land of the living.
The living will lay it to his heart. Eccles. 7.
LIV'ING, n.
1. Means of subsistence; estate.
He divided to them his living. Luke 15.
She of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 41.
2. Power of continuing life. There is no living with a scold.
There is no living without trusting some body or other in some cases.
3. Livelihood. He made a living by his occupation. The woman spins for a living.
4. The benefice of a clergyman. He lost his living by non-conformity.
SAC'RIFICE, v.t. sac'rifize. [L. sacrifico; sacer, sacred, and facio, to make.]
1. To offer to God in homage or worship, by killing and consuming, as victims on an altar; to immolate, either as an atonement for sin, or to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a lamb. 2Sam. 6.
2. To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something; as, to sacrifice the peace of the church to a little vain curiosity. We should never sacrifice health to pleasure, nor integrity to fame.
3. To devote with loss.
Condemn'd to sacrifice his childish years to babbling ignorance and to empty fears.
4. To destroy; to kill.
HO'LY, a.
1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.
Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1.
2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.
3. Proceeding from pious principles,or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.
5. Sacred; as a holy witness.
Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept,and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.
Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.
Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.
ACCEPT'ABLE, a.
1. That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.
2. Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, a man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.
RE'ASONABLE, a.
1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; as a reasonable being. [In this sense, rational is now generally used.]
2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally or according to the dictates of reason; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.
3. Conformable or agreeable to reason; just; rational.
By indubitable certainty, I mean that which does not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.
A law may be reasonable in itself, though a man does not allow it.
4. Not immoderate.
Let all things be thought upon, that may with reasonable swiftness add more feathers to our wings.
5. Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity.
6. Not excessive; not unjust; as a reasonable fine; a reasonable sum in damages.
SERV'ICE, n. [From L. servitium.]
1. In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
2. The business of a servant; menial office.
3. Attendance of a servant.
4. Place of a servant; actual employment of a servant; as, to be out of service.
5. Any thing done by way of duty to a superior.
_____________
Living Sacrifice:
having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead and to offer to God in homage or worship
Holy:
Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections
Acceptable:
That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present
Reasonable Service:
Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity and In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
__________
Have you thought about that? How often do we go about doing what we think we should do without even considering if it is what God would have us do? What is my reasonable service? To be a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. To give myself over completely to God to do as He would have me do. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I put Him there. He shed His holy, perfect, sinless blood for an unholy, selfish sinner: Me. He took on my sins to allow me the opportunity to spend eternity with Him if only I accept precious gift. I accepted that gift over ten years ago and how am I living now? I serve an incredible God in whom I can not completely fathom, but I know all will be well because He holds me fast.
How has your reasonable service been?
Have a great Good Friday!
Friday, April 14, 2006
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