Vol. 16 No. 24 | June 17, 2013
Where do you fit in the Body of Christ? Do you realize that you do have a place? Are there things you can do, or not do, that will help create or enhance the life you and others experience in your community of faith? Are you looking for ways to encourage your friends and family in their spiritual walk? Romans 12 is filled with practical, valuable teaching that can help all of us as we live in the Kingdom.
The teaching begins in verse one with these words:“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV)
“Offer your bodies.” This is where you start. This is the decision of a lifetime. Once this decision has been made all other decisions are made from a different perspective. Unless this decision is made all other decisions are made from a different perspective. It is an important decision.
Notice how Eugene Peterson states: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering.” (Romans 12:1, The Message)
“Place it before God as an offering.” Give yourself to God. All of yourself. Everything you have. Give Him your heart, soul, mind, strength, attitude, talent, vocation, reputation, and possessions.
That sounds like too much to ask, doesn’t it? If we will remember that all that we have with our “everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life” really does not belong to us it makes it easier. God is the Giver of life. He is the One who made us in His image, 
and is simply trying to help us get back to that image of Him. He longs for us to be like Him. We will never be like Him as long as we hold on to the things that we have come to believe are what make us significant.
He knows that real life comes when we surrender our will and the control of our lives to Him. As long as we pretend that we have the answers and can figure out what His will is on our own, we will never find it. His answers and the peace of knowing His will come when we allow Him to be in complete control.
“My heart, my mind, my body, my soul, I give, to You. Take control. I give my body a living sacrifice. Lord, take control. Take control.”
Would you like to have a better church? Give yourself to God. Would like to experience a deeper worship experience? Give yourself to God. Would you like to sense God’s presence in your life in new and fresh ways? Give yourself to God.
Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.