WEDNESDAY'S NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
A VERY GOOD QUESTION
BY PAT GULLEY
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
Have you ever asked yourself this question? What does it mean “TO BE?” I believe it means you have the opportunity to let yourself be used by the world, or to be used by God. The Apostle Paul in this letter to the Christians at Rome is beseeching them to present their bodies to their Lord Jesus so that He will be able to use them along with other members of His Church in fulfilling His will in their lives.
Rom 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
UHMMM. Should I allow myself to be used by God or should I be used by the Devil? I guess that is a legitimate question. I do have the option to be or not to be used. I also have the choice to be useful or not to be useful. What do I need to do in order to be? I need to present my ‘body’ a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which really does make sense. For anyone who needs a reason for living, this is a very good reason.
We do not have animal sacrifices in the New Testament as they did in the Old Testament. Do you know why? Because once Jesus shed His Blood for sins and for sinners, not another drop of blood from any animal, or person could improve on His Sacrifice. Jesus paid it all. Why then does Paul talk about presenting our own bodies as sacrifices? The Jews at Rome would understand this example.
Ps 118:27
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.(KJV)
Under the Old Covenant, Jehovah demanded a burnt sacrifice to be wholly consumed. The animal could be a bullock, or a sheep, or a dove according to the presenter’s resources, but the invariable requirement was that it should be a whole burnt offering. God does not accept less than an utter consecration.
Today what the altar signifies is not doing for God, but being for God. He doesn’t desire our work, but us. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were totally consumed in one final act, the New Testament sacrifice is a “LIVING SACRIFICE”. The meaning of the altar is the offering of our lives to God to be ever consumed, yet ever living: to be ever living, yet ever consumed.
So I ask again, who are you going TO BE USED BY, GOD OR THE DEVIL? Invite Jesus into your heart right now and present yourself to Him. He will do you good.
A VERY GOOD QUESTION
BY PAT GULLEY
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
Have you ever asked yourself this question? What does it mean “TO BE?” I believe it means you have the opportunity to let yourself be used by the world, or to be used by God. The Apostle Paul in this letter to the Christians at Rome is beseeching them to present their bodies to their Lord Jesus so that He will be able to use them along with other members of His Church in fulfilling His will in their lives.
Rom 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
UHMMM. Should I allow myself to be used by God or should I be used by the Devil? I guess that is a legitimate question. I do have the option to be or not to be used. I also have the choice to be useful or not to be useful. What do I need to do in order to be? I need to present my ‘body’ a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which really does make sense. For anyone who needs a reason for living, this is a very good reason.
We do not have animal sacrifices in the New Testament as they did in the Old Testament. Do you know why? Because once Jesus shed His Blood for sins and for sinners, not another drop of blood from any animal, or person could improve on His Sacrifice. Jesus paid it all. Why then does Paul talk about presenting our own bodies as sacrifices? The Jews at Rome would understand this example.
Ps 118:27
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.(KJV)
Under the Old Covenant, Jehovah demanded a burnt sacrifice to be wholly consumed. The animal could be a bullock, or a sheep, or a dove according to the presenter’s resources, but the invariable requirement was that it should be a whole burnt offering. God does not accept less than an utter consecration.
Today what the altar signifies is not doing for God, but being for God. He doesn’t desire our work, but us. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were totally consumed in one final act, the New Testament sacrifice is a “LIVING SACRIFICE”. The meaning of the altar is the offering of our lives to God to be ever consumed, yet ever living: to be ever living, yet ever consumed.
So I ask again, who are you going TO BE USED BY, GOD OR THE DEVIL? Invite Jesus into your heart right now and present yourself to Him. He will do you good.
posted by Metamora Patter at 5/18/2005 12:28:00 PM
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