What2Say2Day? I hope you read through Romans 12 a few times and began to digest what Paul might be trying to say. And since I'm a big believer in the bible will have different messages for different people I won't even begin to try and tell you what the "true" meaning of the message is, but instead will tell you what I think and feel.
Romans 12 begins with these words, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." WOW! Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Those words ring loud and never stop echoing in my mind and heart.
Sacrifices at the time of Paul was how people pleased their gods. Whether that god was Caesar or Apollo one was expected to give something to make their god happy and ensure a good life. Paul is saying to let our bodies, our entire being, everything we are be a sacrifice to our God. Imagine living your life with every decision made, every word spoken, every action performed, and every thought done to make God happy.
The question now becomes, what makes God happy? I may have mentioned this in past posts, and it's definitely worth mentioning again. God is happiest when we (humanity) are in relationship with one another and creation. God is happiest when we do for others more than we do for ourselves. God is happiest when we have respect and live in harmony with all creation. God is happiest when we are happiest.
What does this all mean? Paul is reminding us that all we're expected to do as Christians is to make our entire life and reason for existing about bettering the lives of others. Not to difficult is it?
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