Short and sweet thought for the week…
Romans 12:1 (NIV) says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
God has shown us enormous mercy. Instead of death, He offers us life. He forgives our sins and gives us new purpose through Christ. In response to God’s great mercy, Paul urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.
For a vibrant, young person, it might be a big sacrifice. Someone who is physically beautiful and teeming with natural abilities has much to offer God. However, for me, perhaps not so much. What would God want with my worn-out, wrinkly body that shows years of deterioration? No matter how many exercises I do, vitamin-pills I take, or miracle creams I use, I cannot halt the signs of the aging process. Fortunately, our usefulness to God is not based on outward appearance or being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…or even being able to leap anywhere anymore anytime.
It is only because of God’s mercy that He even wants me at this age! More than my outward body, He wants what’s inside—my heart (1 Samuel 16:7). While our physical bodies wither and shrink with time, our hearts can become bigger and more agile.
Yes, by God’s great mercy we offer our bodies, whether young or old or somewhere in between. We take our eyes off ourselves and fix them on a merciful, loving God who accepts us and works within us for His perfect purpose.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God;
this is your true and proper worship.” ~Romans 12:1 (NIV)
