[Anglican Devotional 21 August 2023] Topic: Christ Standard For The Church
TOPIC: Christ Standard For The Church
READ: Romans 12 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
so we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, [let us use them:] if prophecy, [let us prophesy] in proportion to our faith;
or ministry, [let us use it] in [our] ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
[Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
THE MESSAGE:
Today, we look into the exhortation of Paul Apostle to the Roman Christians to be motivated in responding to all that God had done. They were to give themselves totally and wholly to the One who graciously gave His only begotten Son for the salvation of their souls (Matthew 22:37). Paul urged them to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Our reasonable service/worship is to give the totality of our short life here on earth to Him in appreciating the grace of salvation through Jesus Christ to all. Paul also explained the importance of having godly transformation and renewal of heart. The thinking of believers should focus on those things that will last beyond this world. It is important that we recognise that our body is the temple of the Lord. Therefore, we should not occupy our minds with things that would divert our lives from the eternal purposes ofGod.
Truly, as redeemed children of God, all that God expects from us as individuals, families and Church is to sincerely offer our souls, spirits and bodies to Him. This is the time/hour to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23). We are to avoid all forms of worldly contamination which may keep us off the heavenly race. We must give God all that belong to Him in our lives.
PRAYER: O Lord, give me the grace to surrender my totality to Your service, Amen.
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