Thursday, May 14, 2009, 7:13 a.m. – I woke to this song:
Total Praise / Richard Smallwood
Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills
Knowing my help is coming from You
Your peace You give me in time of the storm
You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You.
You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You.
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
I also woke from A DREAM: I was in an outdoor area with a large group of college-age adults. They were sitting on bleachers, but the bleachers were in a single line, so they were stretched out in front over some distance. I was getting ready to speak or to teach in front of the group.
When I looked at how the bleachers were arranged, I could see that only those who were right in front of me would be able to hear me, see me and/or be able to participate in what we were doing. I did not want to leave anyone out, so I asked someone (maybe my husband) to rearrange the bleachers so that they were more in a cluster together so that everyone could see, hear and could participate.
So, we moved the bleachers closer together to where everyone could see, hear and could participate in what we were doing. Then, I stood up in front of the group. A woman at the back of the group was standing on the ground with her back to me and she was leading some people in a song. I was not familiar with the song. Something wasn’t right about it. And, it appeared that the woman had a problem with her attitude that was affecting the rest of the group.
So, I went to the back to speak with the woman. I told her that she should present her issue to me and that I would take care of it. I also told her that she should accept whatever decision I made about it. She agreed.
Then I went back to the front of the group, which was rather large. I was surprised by how many young adults were there and were enjoying participating in this gathering. I had a fleeting thought that a news reporter might hear about what we were doing and that he might come to see us and to write a story about us. I thought about how they always report bad stuff about young adults and how it would be nice if they reported good news about what young people were doing.
Then, I decided that we would memorize a scripture passage. I chose Romans 12:1-2. I asked someone nearby (think she was a relative) to read, so she began to read, only she read from a different book in the Bible. So, I led her to read Romans 12:1-2. I asked her to read until I stopped her. We began breaking down the verses word by word and phrase by phrase, using a dictionary to look up words (I was quoting from the KJV).
Then, I had to leave for something, so I handed it off to someone else and I asked him or her to continue where I left off. END
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read where I had left off reading in I John, only it is not clicking yet, so we will begin with Romans 12:1-2 and see where the Lord takes us. And, we will break it down, just like I did in the dream.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (New International Version).
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. 2And 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 (King James Version).
In an earlier writing I discussed the usage of the term “therefore” and how you must look back to what came before it to see what it is “there for”. With regard to Romans 12:1-2, I stated that the first 11 chapters give us the understanding of the “therefore.” Chapter 1 discusses the sinful condition of man and God’s wrath against mankind. It also tells us that man is without excuse because what is plain about God has been made known to them through the things God has made.
Chapter 2 teaches us about God’s righteous judgment and it hits the nail on the head with regard to hypocrisy – those who judge others for doing the same things that they do and/or those who teach others not to do things and yet do the same things they are teaching others not to do. Then, the author talks about the Jews and the law and how that they should not feel that they are superior (none of us should) because they follow the law. And, we learn that it is not observance to outward rituals that make us righteous before God, for it is circumcision of the heart that makes one in a right relationship with God.
In chapter 3, if chapter 2 did not dispel any notions we had of feeling superior or feeling self-righteous, we learn that no one is righteous, not even one. All we like sheep have turned away. The description of the sinful condition of man is rather horrific, but it is true. That is what we are outside of Christ. Yet, it does not leave us there. We have hope! Now we have a righteousness that comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Then, chapters 4 through 11 explain in further detail what it means to be saved by faith in contrast to what the law provided.
The best part of this section, I believe, is that we learn that Christ has set us free, not only from the ultimate penalty of our sin, but he also set us free from the bondage to and the control of sin in our lives. We don’t have to be slaves to sin any longer, but we can be slaves to righteousness. Through Jesus Christ, “the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (8:2). Amen!!
So, we have an obligation (see 8:12) to put to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit at work within us. This eventually leads us to chapter 12 and the “therefore” states that because of all we learned about in the first 11 chapters; because of all that Jesus did for us in dying on the cross for our sins and in setting us free, we are urged (advised; insisted on; begged; or implored) or beseeched (entreated; requested; or demanded) to do the following:
- To present (offer; give to; hand over) your bodies (the entirety of our being) a living (alive; breathing; active) sacrifice (something you give up; forgo; let go of; surrender – submit or yield to; or give to without reservation)
- Holy (sacred; consecrated – set apart; sanctified; righteous) and pleasing (agreeable; pleasant; enjoyable; satisfying; welcome) to God
- As a spiritual (holy; sacred; divine; unworldly; devout - devoted) act (do something; take action; be active; work; accomplish) of worship (adoration; love; reverence; respect).
- Do not conform (play the game; agree with; fit to) any longer (implying you once did this) to the pattern (example; model; guide) of this world (system, values and teachings, i.e. worldly thoughts, values, behaviors, etc.)
- But be transformed (changed; converted; renovated – repaired; restored; remodeled) by the renewing (refurbishing; mending; regenerating) of your mind (way of thinking; perceptions; intellect; reasoning; points of view).
Then you will be able to test (examine; assess; investigate) and approve (support; agree to; commend; endorse; and/or allow) what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (NIV).
…that ye may prove (show; establish; confirm) what is that good (high quality; superior; excellent; upright; worthy), and acceptable (satisfactory; suitable; pleasing), and perfect (just right; faultless; flawless), will (desire; resolve; choice; determination) of God (KJV).
The bottom line is that because of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins on the cross and because of what he did in setting us free from the penalty of, the bondage to and the control of sin in our lives, we ought to lay down our lives on the altar of God as people whose lives and actions are in submission to, are yielded to, and are set apart to God, as well as are pleasing to Him.
Our worship of God is not to be confined to just words or songs, but it is to be shown by our actions and our behaviors, as well as worship is to be action (do something) to demonstrate our devotion to, our reverence for and our love and respect for God Almighty. We worship God by our very lives.
God doesn’t want just our words or our praise songs. He wants our hearts and our every day lives! He doesn’t want us to sing praises to him but then for us to turn around and live like the world. That is not worship. He wants us to be transformed and renewed in our minds so that our lives reflect God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. That is our spiritual act of worship.
