December 24, 2008

Your Reasonable Service

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

Since God died that we might be free of sin, it does seem reasonable that we do our best not to sin. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 NKJV)

God is calling us to yield our bodies to Him. “For all that [is] in the world——the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life——is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is required to accomplish this task. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 NKJV)

The process involves the renewing of the mind. This is crucial, and in perfect harmony with what Paul has already taught. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Romans 8:5-9 NKJV)

As we yield to God’s Spirit, we prove that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. This means that we discover firsthand how His laws are all good and good for us. We discover how God’s ways are better than our ways.

If the world controls your thinking, you will never discover what the Lord desires for you. Worldly thinking abounds all around you; you will never be able to escape its presence this side of heaven. Yes, even if you hang out at the church all week, worldly thinking will still surround you. I don’t mean to be harsh with that comment, but Christ said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV) Many of those who enter by the wide gate will find their place in the church. They are not in the true Church, but our assemblies and they will have their influence.

Therefore, the only way to overcome this influence is to sacrifice your lives to God by becoming a student of His word and denying fleshly desires. Only when you place God’s Word above man’s words will you discover the Lord’s will.

That doesn’t mean you are not to listen to other Godly men. However, you need to prove what they tell you by comparing it to Scripture like the Bereans (Acts 17:11). Many things sound logical, but not all things are holy. Many things seem harmless until examined by Scripture. Make sure you follow God and not man. “For everyone who partakes [only] of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, [that is], those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV)