45Rom012.mp3
Commentary
Father, I receive Your Word, in Jesus' name. Open my eyes, so that I can see how Your Word applies to my life, and so that I can share with others a clear account of how You are improving my life. I hope to offer people the same opportunity to life a good life, as a real member of the Family. I ask You to forgive me for sinning, and clean me from all the unrighteousness I have chosen to commit. I do not wish to commit offense to the will and plan You have for me, and for the people I interact with. I know that You see more for me, and I spend time in opposite effort. I identify these things and I hope to improve my values and priorities. I hope to live more closely to Your will and plan for me. I am excited each time I see more of that purpose, and initiate my efforts in it. The honor is complete. Thank You, Jesus.
Chapter 12 comes immediately to a very strong point. So far in Romans we have conceived the truth of identity, both in ourselves, and ourselves in God. We have solidified the unity of mankind in One, Jesus. It is not of the flesh, which is temporal, but of the Spirit, which is eternal. Jew and Greek, or Gentile, it's all temporal, and in reference to its parable of spirituality, it is a matter of the heart, not of race or nationality. Mankind is Gods only true love. Everything that exists in the materialized physical realm exists to support human life. Jesus came so that we can have life more abundant. If all that already exists isn't enough abundance, it can only be because we have not utilized our resources sufficiently. Perhaps we need an organized effort? Yes, unity is always key in group effort.
Now we see that Paul has addressed this issue directly, and to the point. Our reasonable service is to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. Stop and thing about just the first operative word here... sacrifice. In my own words, sacrifice means to surrender a needed or cherished substance at an expected zero percent return. It is a NEEDED substance... clothing, shelter and/or food. Not only just the three primary, and not even just other things above these. A sacrifice is specific to an immediately needed substance that is surrendered at an expected zero percent return. It means to give something that you will be willing to be depleted of completely, at least temporarily. It wouldn't be much of a sacrifice if you could say, "sure, you can have it... I won't be needing it right away, anyway." Such a statement is one example of what a sacrifice IS NOT.
For three days, God was completely depleted of Jesus. In a sense, that is exactly like saying for three days, God was "outside Himself?" He went to hell to take the keys. He was dead three days. This was the manifested, flesh man; Jesus and is still in whole, God. Death has lost its sting, much like an abused child grows stoic and distances himself from it, within. Even though this thing is very real, and even more so today than ever before, we are inherently over-comers and can do all things through Jesus. The world can lose its strength of influence in our lives when we recede from it and draw nigh to the Word of God, which is God, which is Jesus, which is the Holy Spirit and all power of heaven and earth. Its a full package; nothing missing, nothing broken. And that's the reasonable service.
God's will is good, acceptable and perfect. We transform by renewing our mind in the written and living Word. Read it and apply it in daily living. Our minds and lives will gravitate to that which is good, acceptable and perfect. We will find that our patterns will be improved and we will begin to shine. Simply put, our lives will be so very much more appealing to the people who are searching for a better life. After all, we don't need advanced education to know that the primitive will of man is to survive to the very best we can. In that, we are all looking for a better life. Jesus came so that we can have life more abundant. We can have a better life in Him.
As clear as can be stated, verse one tells that we need to sacrifice our life and live good, acceptable and perfect lives. Now that don't seem very easy. Yet it is the reasonable service. Verse two bails us out of our brief panic. To achieve the reasonable service, all we have to do is read the Word and apply what we learn to our daily lives. Now that seems achievable. Understandably, its going to have its challenges. Look forward to these challenges as opportunities to become stronger and more dedicated to the effort. Your life will begin to take on a transformation. We can all do this very easily at whatever level you are already at.
Now, think about this... there was a time in each of our lives when we achieved or overcome something that was exhausting in effort. Afterwards, we felt triumphant and sort of bigger even though we were tired. God knows this will happen on a different, much larger scale if we don't stay out of ourselves and stay in Him. No matter how huge the project is, or how greatly you have achieved in His purpose, do not think of yourself as the person who achieved it so greatly. I applaud your dedication and constant willingness, and that is all you have in this thing. As valuable as it is to be dedicated and faithful, it is STILL none of OUR doing that achieved it. It is ALL the doing of GOD. He will share NO GLORY. To Him be all honor and glory. It was not I, but Christ in me. Just keep it real, bro.
Now we see that these gifts are given us to keep producing that which is its purpose. Sometimes we get so good at something we have times of "mass production" In simple words, we had a great, or productive day. Sometimes we overachieve because of some sort of spike in zeal. Whatever the situation, try to keep it simple. Too much of a good thing can weigh us down. Sure, indulge sometimes, as the exception, not the rule. Keep it light. I remember one time, I got everyone all excited about a great contest, but as the people got more excited, so did I. I began to rattle off some of the details and it began to sound too complicated. Just as quickly as they got excited, they lost interest. I mean, it was a popular contest and has only successful results. The point is, keep it simple, keep it constant, and don't over do it.
The chapter goes on and breaks it down one point and then another. Its clear that the common thing is that we stick to what we are assigned. We are all multi-talented children of God. After all, we can do all things through Christ. Just because we can do it, we still need to stick to our personal assignment. Its good to aide or lend a hand to a brother or sister, but it is still necessary to stick to your own calling. It will directly and indirectly compliment the other ministry callings within the congregation and throughout all of the other churches, as well.
I don't want to skip over some of these obvious points that Paul has written. It is clear that we need to treat each others and people of the world very well, no matter what, even if they openly and deliberately treat us badly. Don't respond in a condescending way. Don't respond with any undercurrent of message, meant to save face. That is a manipulation that clearly shows self pride. Swallow that junk. Better yet, spew it out! That sort of pride will trip you up. Pride shows its ugly face just before it causes you to fall. Even then, hop back up on your feet before it has a chance to cause shame. God is the lifter of our head. Not us. If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us. If we exalt ourselves, or think too highly of ourselves, God will abate us. He will bring us low, so that we will humble. God is first. He will not share His Glory.
There is a familiar phrase in the jail systems all over the country, "do your time, don't let your time do you." Maybe if you understand that, it will be easier to understand how to overcome evil with good. Don't adhere to or apply the "eye for an eye" concept. Instead, if someone treats you like doodoo, get immediately on latrine duty. Be a "do-gooder", it really works, even still today. Don't let the bad guys bring dark skies. Keep your head up, put your smile on (from the heart... the real thing, baby), and do something unexpectedly good for that person. They are definitely hurting, suffering or otherwise struggling with something when they effort to mess your bless. When its all said and done, if you done your part correctly, you will immediately feel FAR better than you did before, and even BETTER still than you would have if you popped off with resentful resistance. Its all about the Great Commission... love others as you would have them love you.
Monday, June, 11th, 2012 - 2:50am
