living sacrifice – Be Still…

Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in This!

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12)

As believers, we don’t just have confidence; we have “confident hope.” Instead of just hoping things work out, our confident hope gives us assurance because of what Jesus did for us. We don’t have to worry; we place our trust in Jesus, who always keeps his promises. Doesn’t having that kind of confident hope bring you peace and comfort, too?

Context (Romans 12): This verse is one of many gems in the 12^th chapter of Romans talking about our lives as Christians. This verse comes right after Paul talks about being part of the Body of Christ, each of us having our own gifts to offer to the kingdom. Let this verse remind you of your allegiance as well as your community of faithful believers. Continue reading “Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in This!”

Romans 12:1 – Worship Like This

“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.” (Romans 12:1)

Don’t get the wrong idea and imagine Paul telling the people in this letter to get up on a slab as a burnt offering sacrifice to the Lord. While that type of thing would be common in the pagan world, Paul’s counsel was for a different type of worship—a holy, devoted kind.

Context: The twelfth chapter of Romans is one of my favorite chapters because of all the gems. Paul’s whole letter to the Romans gives practical advice for living a faithful life devoted to Jesus. Paul had never met his audience, but he taught them with love and respect. When we think of the historical backdrop of events, new believers living in Rome had seen and endured a lot. Paul’s counsel would have been insightful and encouraging. Continue reading “Romans 12:1 – Worship Like This”

Leviticus 22:17-33 – Without Defect

Read Leviticus 22:17-33

It’s as if the precepts for sacrificial animals in this passage jump through time and help us appreciate the perfect sacrifice Jesus represents for us. He was certainly without defect because he never sinned.

What does God’s desire for perfection say about the value of the gift, the recipient, or the giver? Certainly, an animal without blemish would be more valuable in a monetary sense, but God (the recipient) looks at the heart of the giver. God doesn’t want our cast offs or leftovers. Such would be insulting, showing an utter disrespect for God. Continue reading “Leviticus 22:17-33 – Without Defect”

Lamentations 3:40-66 – Emotional Rollercoaster

Read Lamentations 3:40-66

A rollercoaster of emotions concludes the third lament. I’m sure you can recall a time in your life when you were on that “ride.” The writer wisely suggests the solution is to turn back to God. No matter what we may be going through, the answer is always to invite God into our situation. Yet, the writer’s guilt is clear. He feels unforgiven, unable to imagine God’s mercy.

Is that what stops us from devoting ourselves to God? Do we feel guilty, unworthy of his love? Thankfully, those are feelings we can control. We are indeed guilty of living sinful lives and should acknowledge that. Never forget that despite what we’ve done, we are loved beyond measure by our heavenly Father. Instead of feeling guilty for our blunders in this life, we should focus on how we can do better. For us Christ followers, we need to follow our leader and be more like Jesus!