Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)
1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

I’m floored again at the connection between the flesh, the soul (inclusive of the mind), and the spirit. My “decisive dedication” of all my body – flesh and mind – is worship. The word translated spiritual, is logikos which is much more related to the mind and to reason and logic. No wonder verse 12 is about the renewing of my mind as the key to transformation. (See “The Command Center” and “Battleground of the Soul” to get the whole chain of thought…)

Obviously, this is important.

Action Item: Detail “renewing” my mind.  What does that look like?  Is there a scriptural recipie for it?

Irrevocable…

Romans 11:29 (ESV) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

“gifts” – charisma – 1 a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own. 2 the gift of divine grace. 3 the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue. 4 the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith. (Rom 1:11; 5:15; 6:23; 11:29; 12:6; 1Cor 1:7; 7:7; 12:4; 2Cor 1:11; 1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6; 1Pet 4:10)

“call” – klesis – basically means vocation and a divine invitation, but comes from the word kaleo, which implies to receive a name or to bear a title.

“irrevocable” – ametameletos – Strong’s Lexicon says “Two occurrences; AV translates as “without repentance” once, and “not to be repented of” once. 1 not repentant of, unregretted.

This is interesting because “to repent” means “to change one’s mind.” It basically means to do a 180 and go the other direction.

Substituting those meanings into this verse makes it read much different.

God’s divine gift of grace – my eternal salvation – and my calling – my vocational call, my title, my position in life, my destiny – if you will – is something that God has given me, granted me and will not change His mind on… ever.

The cool – and freeing – thing to me is that I can’t do anything to “undo” His gift. I can’t remove myself from his list. I can’t do anything that will make Him rescind his gift or my calling. Those things that affect my relationship with Him (sin, unforgiveness, disobedience, etc) can greatly affect my effectiveness in my calling, but it can’t change my calling.

So, how do I become as effective as possible? How do I walk in and know what my calling is? That is the question.

Running After Papa…

Running After Papa

Irrevocable…

Romans 11:29 (ESV) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

“gifts” – charisma – 1 a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own. 2 the gift of divine grace. 3 the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue. 4 the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith. (Rom 1:11; 5:15; 6:23; 11:29; 12:6; 1Cor 1:7; 7:7; 12:4; 2Cor 1:11; 1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6; 1Pet 4:10)

“call” – klesis – basically means vocation and a divine invitation, but comes from the word kaleo, which implies to receive a name or to bear a title.

“irrevocable” – ametameletos – Strong’s Lexicon says “Two occurrences; AV translates as “without repentance” once, and “not to be repented of” once. 1 not repentant of, unregretted.

This is interesting because “to repent” means “to change one’s mind.” It basically means to do a 180 and go the other direction.

Substituting those meanings into this verse makes it read much different.

God’s divine gift of grace – my eternal salvation – and my calling – my vocational call, my title, my position in life, my destiny – if you will – is something that God has given me, granted me and will not change His mind on… ever.

The cool – and freeing – thing to me is that I can’t do anything to “undo” His gift.  I can’t remove myself from his list.  I can’t do anything that will make Him rescind his gift or my calling.  Those things that affect my relationship with Him (sin, unforgiveness, disobedience, etc) can greatly affect my effectiveness in my calling, but it can’t change my calling.

So, how do I become as effective as possible?  How do I walk in and know what my calling is?  That is the question.

Drawing Near…

All day today I have been mulling over yesterday’s post.  Dad chose me.

I’m not a robot and God didn’t ordain that I would accept or pursue him.  But he did say “This one can find me if he looks for me.” 

James says “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.”  I’m so familiar with that verse.  But what rocks me is that there are those people who may never be able to draw near to God – no matter how hard they try – because God didn’t ordain that.

God ordained that I would – if I choose to – draw near to Him so that He would in turn draw near to me.  Wow.  This still rocks me.

Thank you Dad for choosing me.  I choose to draw near to You today.  I love you.  Amen.

Grateful…

Romans 11:7 (NLT) “7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.”

Only one greek lesson today: The NLT translates this word into “chosen.”

ekloge /ek·log·ay/ 1 the act of picking out, choosing. 1a of the act of God’s free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons. 1b the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone. 2 a thing or person chosen. 2a of persons: God’s elect.

If I understand this verse, God has chosen those who have found Him and His favor. The inverse of that is that there are those whom God has not allowed to find him, regardless of their earnestness, diligence and passion. This is something I can’t wrap my head around, but I am grateful. I’m grateful that God, in His mercy, chose me to be one of those people who “gets” to find Him and His favor.

The more I have pondered this the more freeing I realize it is, once we really grasp the reality of it.  I don’t get it.  I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!  Were it not for God choosing me, it wouldn’t even matter, because no matter how I searched, I could not find Him. Man, that rocks my world!

Papa, I am so thankful and grateful for your grace and love. Why you’ve chosen me to be one of your own I have no idea, because I certainly don’t deserve the grace and mercy you show me daily. Thank you. My prayer is that I never take advantage of your love, grace, and mercy and the fact that I have been chosen to find you. I pray that I never forget that I am only yours because You chose me. Bless your name.

Sent with a purpose

Romans 10:13-15a

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

Paul lists a backward progression to the salvation of all. The meaning of the word “call on him” means to place their trust in; to identify themselves with.

Someone must be “sent,” which implies for a particular purpose, in order to “preach.” “Preach,” is the same word as “proclaim” found in verse 8, “...the word of faith that we proclaim.”

Someone preaches in order that others might hear and believe.

When someone hears and believes, then and only then can they call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

So what? That’s great! I’m not the one who is to be “sent” with a purpose! It’s easy for me to say “that’s not my job or calling.” I’m not an evangelist. My spiritual gifts don’t include evangelism or mission work.

Ah… but wait. I Tim 4:2 says “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Notice there is no qualifying statement around it – check the references.

I am to be prepared in season and out of season. Convincing, rebuking, exhorting… that sounds a lot like being “sent” – to be sent with a purpose. In season and out of season, i.e. all the time, I am to be prepared with a purpose for proclaiming the Truth. What is the Truth? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

In the wit and wisdom on Golden Child… “What does that look like?”

For me it is being in His presence daily. What about you?

Abundance of good treasure

Romans 10:8-10 (ESV)

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Lots of words with much deeper meanings that we describe in their English translations here.

heart – the word kardia – means “inner self, never the literal body part called the “heart,” this is a reference to the areas of the inner self, including: the volition, the mind, the desires, etc., though the facility of the intellect make be slightly more emphasized.”  The volition (will), the mind (mind), the desires (emotions) all make up the soul… that battleground between the spirit and the flesh.  This is where we store up good treasure OR we store up bad treasure according to Jesus in Luke 6:45.

Luke 6:45 (ESV) 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

It is the same word used in Luke as is used in this Romans passage.  The interesting part to me in these passages is that heart (kardia) and mouth (stoma) are both used together in the same sentences.  Stoma (the mouth) literally means the fleshly mouth that utters sounds.  So, in a way, it could very well represent the flesh.  That would mean to me that the condition of my soul is reflected in what comes out of my mouth and my flesh.

Back to the Romans passage…

near – can mean “be close to a place“, but can also mean “be close to a time.”  Which changes everything in the context of this verse.

proclaim – means “to proclaim with the goal to persuade, urge, warn to comply”, “to announce publicly”.

word of faith – doctrine, trustworthiness, Christian faith, what can be believed

confesses – According to Strongs (homologeo) – “1 to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent. 2 to concede. 2a not to refuse, to promise. 2b not to deny. 2b1 to confess. 2b2 declare. 2b3 to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one’s self guilty of what one is accused of. 3 to profess. 3a to declare openly, speak out freely. 3b to profess one’s self the worshiper of one. 4 to praise, celebrate.“

OK.  THAT is a drastically different meaning than to “utter” something.  I think we’re too quick to assume someone is a follower of Jesus based on our Western definition of “confess.”  I’ve always struggled with this verse because only God can know if a person truly believes in his heart.  The heart and someone’s belief is hidden.  All we look for is someone to say “Jesus is Lord,” and that’s good enough.

What we need to be looking for now is the NEW definition of “confess.”  When someone truly believes and understands the grace Christ afforded them, they cannot help but “confess” Jesus is Lord with praise and celebration and declaring themselves both by word and action to be a worshiper of Christ.  This worship comes from adoration and thankfulness, not out of duty or because someone said so.  Everything about salvation is about relationship, not religion.

I’ll try to tie it all together.  First – His Word is near me- near in location and near in timing.  He wants to use me at any place, at any time to proclaim publicly that which is trustworthy, with the goal of persuading and urging others to the Truth.  However, there is something that can influence my vocal utterances – my heart (my soul, if you remember our definition).  In my heart I can store up good treasure or bad treasure.  That is my choice.  What I store up, is what will come out.

How can I persuade others of the truth, if I’ve stored up bad treasure?

I can’t just put “enough” good treasure in either.  Jesus was very specific in the word “abundance” and it means exactly what it says, “in excess”, “scraps left over”, “overflow”, “plenty.”

So today’s exercise for me is “How do I store up an abundance of good treasure in my soul (mind, will, and emotions)?”


Misdirected Zeal

Romans 9:30-10:4

30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 10 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

I don’t know what exactly to say with this post. There are two obvious questions from Romans 10:2.

First, is my own zeal in any way misdirected when it comes to my relationship with the Lord? Am I in any way trying to maintain my relationship with Papa myself? Am I legalistic? Of course not… I hope. However, a deeper question arose as I wrote this. I have to ask myself this question: Am I in any way trying to maintain my relationship with Papa under my own strength at all? Ahhh! That’s not such an easy question to tackle.

IF I am attempting to keep my relationship with Him under my own strength, my own tactics, my own plan, my own (fill in the blank), then as Romans 10:3 says, I “...don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself…” and I am attempting to live under my own set of rules, a.k.a. Law. That’s a good first question from that passage.

The second obvious question to me is this: Who has God put in my life that are enthusiastically running with misdirected zeal? I could list a few. This may be my first workout with my new spiritual weapon (see “Off to the prayer gym…” that I posted several days ago). I believe Father wants me to intercede for them and come away with His perspective on the situation and how I should or shouldn’t respond.

How does all this relate to the divisions of the church we call “denominations”?  Are there denominations, and even faiths, that were spawned out of misdirected zeal?

I am reminded of a story a friend of mine told me.  When he was at the Naval Academy, while training in the Marine Corp, they were shooting cannons.  He told me how just being a half an inch off in the aim of the cannon could result in the projectile being hundreds of yards and even miles off course.  This could be deadly to your own in the midst of a war.

How different is misdirected zeal?  One slightly askew thought – not too far different than mainstream initially – leads to another slightly off step.  Before you know it you are somewhere miles off of the original trajectory. It too could be deadly to those around you.  Look at Jim Jones.  He was – at one time – a ferverent preacher and passionate follower of the Lord.  Somewhere his zeal misled him and his followers.  What about David Koresh?  From the reports I remember, his zeal, let him and his followers die a brutal death.

Dad, may my zeal always be guided by your word.  Never let my passion for you get ahead of you.

His Choice…

Romans 9:1-21 NLT

First thing that hit me:

2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

OK. Could I say that? Would I give up my relationship with Christ, would I go to Hell, in order for “my people” – whomever that might be – to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven? I don’t know that I could. I so love my relationship with the Lord. That’s a really hard question. I realize that I certainly don’t deserve the grace He affords me. God has been growing my love for people over the last few years. Honestly, there was a time not too long ago, that I really didn’t care about the eternity of others, particularly people I didn’t know. But He’s working on me. Seeing what Papa does when He really gets a hold of a man’s heart continues to soften my heart for the salvation of others and burdens me for the health of men as husbands and fathers.

Second thing that hit me:

15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. 19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

WHO AM I? “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose,” says the Lord God. He chose to show me both. He chose to show me what he showed me why? “… to spread my fame throughout the earth.” How’s that working in my life? Am I spreading His fame? Am I spreading His renown? Am I spreading His glory?

Sometimes.

Daddy, I’m glad you chose me to be a recipient of your mercy and compassion. I surrender control of it all. Use me in whatever way brings your fame on the earth. Whatever that looks like, I’m all in. I love you. Amen.

Am I choosing who I'm serving?

Matt 25:34-40 (NLT)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Jesus taught in parables his entire ministry. It would be interesting to see how many of his teachings were ONLY face value. With that in mind, I started thinking differently about this teaching when I these verses this morning. What if this was not only the lesson of “to the least of these,” but what if there is more?

Could each example be a different kind of person in differing stages or seasons of their spiritual life?

Hungry: Those purposing to be transformed. They have moved from spiritual milk to spiritual food and they yearn for it.
Thirsty: 1. Those spiritual babes still on the spiritual milk; 2. Those who yet have drunk the Living Water from Jesus.
Stranger: Those who feel unwelcome or rejected by the Church. Those who consider themselves outcasts.
Naked: Those plagued by shame. Those who feel vulnerable and exposed and unprotected.
Sick: Those spiritually sick and misguided from the Truth of the Gospel.
Imprisoned: Those who are in bondage by the enemy. Those who feel isolated and rejected by society. Those who are rebelling against God.

I’ve been each one of these at some time in my life. It almost seems like a reverse progression.

I was imprisoned and in bondage to my sin and pride. My sin made me sick and clouded my vision of who Jesus was and who I was in Christ. I was naked and shamed by my sin. I thirsted for relationship with Christ and I am hungry for more of Him.  Could it be that because I’ve been through each of these, God wants to use those experiences to minister to others in those same places?

I don’t know what this means to me yet. I don’t know why Papa put it on my heart, but I felt compelled to share and would like to banter about this idea.

I feel challenged to identify those people that I know who are currently in one of those places and purpose to minister to them where they are. Who are the hungry in my life and what am I doing to feed them? Who are the thirsty in my life and am I giving them them a drink? Who are the strangers in my life and am I welcoming to them? Who are the naked in my life and what am I clothing them with? Who are the sick in my life and am I comforting them? Who are the imprisoned in my life and am I visiting them and just loving on them with the Love of God? Now, the bigger question… am I choosing (or am I picky about) who I’m serving? OUCH! That hurt.

The overlying message is still “to the least of these,” which is humility, service, and expressing His love to others. This is an overriding lesson Father has been teaching me for the last few years.

Dad, let me serve everyone you put in my life with humility and love.  May I show them You and not me.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.