We read in the earlier chapters of Romans how Paul argued convincingly that our justification (right standing) before God is through faith in Christ and not based on keeping the law of God given through Moses. And as a result of this justification, we have received the benefits of heaven as considered last week. Paul concluded his theological treatise in 11:32 by saying that God has shut up both Jews and Gentiles in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
From chapter 12 onwards, he gave some practical advice on living out the Christian faith. In view of God’s mercy (His withholding of punishment on us due to our disobedience), Paul urged us (the believers) to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. The word worship is used to connote the kind of work the priests used to perform in the temple. The great difference is in the type of sacrifices used, dead animals as opposed to living sacrifices. In many pagan religions, dead animal sacrifices are still being offered to their gods. But for us believers, God demands us as His living sacrifices. How easy it is for a living sacrifice to walk away from the altar of God (12:1)!
The only way we can yield ourselves to God’s will (as opposed to being dictated by our will) is not to conform our thinking according to the pattern of this world but to be transformed (commitment to a long term way of doing things) by the renewing of our mind. The mind here speaks of our ability to reason and make moral judgments. We can only make right judgments provided we continually make connections with the God of righteousness. In particular, our mind renewal comes through the constant reading and meditation of God’s Word in order to know His will, which is good, pleasing and perfect (12:2).
Question: What proportion of time each day do we spend reading/meditating God’s Word as opposed to reading/watching other things?
Whatever we feed our mind daily, we would invariably be affected by it, whether for good or evil. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Pr 23:7)
God desires first and foremost our worship (being in conformity to His will) and then our service (doing). Jesus commended Mary (who sat at His feet in worship) for having chosen the good part as opposed to Martha, who busied herself with housework ie. service (Lk 10:41-42).
Our service to God is manifested in our service to humanity and can be seen in the following ways:
1. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (philadelphia) – seek the good fortune of others, exercising our spiritual gifts in love (12:10).
2. Love (agapao) one another – loving others unconditionally as demonstrated by Christ (13:8).
3. Do not judge one another – in non-essentials, let there be diversity but in essentials, let there be unity (14:13).
4. Accept one another – this is the basis of all relationships regardless of nationality, status or gender (15:7).
The last point was elaborated by me on Good Neighbours’ Day on 14 Nov 09 in which I quoted Gal 3:26-28, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” God through the church of Jesus Christ is creating a new humanity (spiritual race) which transcends culture, creed and race. We shall one day be like the angels of heaven, not given to marriage (Mt 22:30).
Rev Michael Ross Watson prophesied over our church that there would be growth and increase. This of course begins with each one of us cultivating the “being” (worship) before embarking on the "doing” (service). Jesus Christ is our supreme example in this area:
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Lk 1:80 (NIV)
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Lk 2:52 (NKJV)
If you’re faithfully reading God’s Word on a daily basis, you’ve started on a journey to build up your spirit man; to increase in godly wisdom. You’ll gain great stature both in the eyes of God and man; gaining favour in whatever you do. It is the prayer of the spiritual leadership of Bethesda Cathedral that you'd grow and increase daily in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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