In View of God's Mercy

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices …  Romans 12:1
 

 

Don’t miss this!! Paul is about to say something extremely important. Romans 12, verses 1 and 2 are pivotal. My church in Appleton, WI is just beginning a 40-week spiritual journey, called "Uncommon," and verse 2 gives us the title for the first part of our journey: “Unconformed.” Do not miss Romans 12:1-2!

 

Most importantly, don’t miss the word “therefore.” I know, it doesn’t seem like a significant word. But it really is key. “Therefore” makes you ask: “What’s the ‘therefore’ there for?” And in this key verse it is there to indicate this: when Paul calls all Christians to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices,” we have to understand that that does not happen apart from everything Paul has just said in eleven preceding chapters of Romans! You can read the whole thing (especially Romans 3:23-24 and Romans 6:23!); but for the sake of brevity, just understand that it is all summed up in one critical phrase: “God’s mercy” (Romans 12:1).

 

“Mercy” is “not getting what we deserve.” If I get caught speeding yet the officer chooses to let me go with no consequence, that’s mercy. With God, we deserve death and eternal condemnation (Rom. 6:23). Yet God chose to release us from that fate by taking our punishment on Himself — making Jesus Christ a sacrifice in our place (Rom. 3:24-25).

 

Paul understood that if we are going to live an uncommon life, unconformed to the pattern of this world, that is only possible “in view of God’s mercy.” Here’s the point: it all starts with God. As in the beginning, when there was nothing and God created, nothing we do happens apart from God. (see John 15:5; 2 Cor. 5:14)

 

Here is the second critical piece: because God has given us life when we deserve death, we owe God everything we have. Paul says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” That means going ‘all-in,’ holding nothing back. You can’t just give a little time or a little money or a little lip-service and call that good. Offer your “bodies,” he says — that means your whole self: your body, your thoughts, your passions, your present and future — everything! Let God use you for His purposes. Paul goes on to say: this is your worship. Not the songs you sing at church; giving your whole life for His work is your act of worship. Give it all to Him today!

 

Prayer: Father, I don’t deserve anything You give me. In view of Your mercy, lead me to give You all that I am, as an act of worship. Amen.