A Wonderful Reminder - Ρωμαίοι ιβ . α – β
Ρωμαίοι ιβ' . α' – β' -- Romans 12 : 1 – 2
A wonderful reminder
Last October 9, Annie, a mother whom I just knew the previous month, kindly gave me this wonderful reminder. This reminder ring is an answer to prayer. I had been looking for a simple thing I could carry with me that would remind me of the importance of holiness and purity in God's eye, whether purity in mind, motives, and/or body.
As Christians, each one of us needs constant reminders about many things. Each week, the Lord's Supper reminds us of God’s ultimate love and holiness (by remembering the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ). Most of us read God's Word daily not only to get our spiritual food for the day, but also to be reminded of who God is, what He has done to us, and what we should do in respond to His love and holiness that will bring glory to Him.
Surely there are many other ways Christians can do to remind themselves of the aforementioned things. I’d like to share this particular reminder about purity, and I pray this will encourage all of us. Often times our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.
Romans 12 : 1 – 2:
“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.”
What is the “THEREFORE” there for?
To answer this question, the previous passages (Romans 1 through 11) must be considered. This is the only way we can fully understand what the “THEREFORE” is there for. The following reasons were obtained (but much more could have been added to the list):
By God’s grace through faith in my Lord Jesus Christ, He has saved me (Romans 1).
By the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, He has led me to repentance (Romans 2).
By His grace through the redemption in Christ, I’m freely justified (Romans 3).
I no longer live under law but under grace (Romans 4).
I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5).
I’m now dead to sin but alive to God, and that I have eternal life in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 6).
I have become dead to the law and have been delivered from the law (Romans 7).
I’m in Christ and thus, there is no more condemnation (Romans 8).
I know that all things work together for good to anyone who loves God (Romans 8).
I will never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8).
For there is no unrighteousness with God (Romans 9).
By confessing with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believing in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, I’m saved (Romans 10).
The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Romans 11).
God’s judgments that are unsearchable and His ways that are past finding out (Romans 11).
For Him and through Him and to Him who are all things, to whom be glory forever (Romans 11).
So what then?
For all of those marvelous things above, THEREFORE, by the mercies of God, I’m entreated to present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is my reasonable service. Also, for the above compelling reasons, THEREFORE, I must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It is clear from Romans 12:1-2 that God desires purity in my mind (which includes motives) and my body.
If my God and my Lord Jesus Christ has given me everything, including His body, if He has indeed set me free from any kind of bondage by His death and resurrection, no sacrifice is too great to make for Him. “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demand my heart, my life, my all.” (Isaac Watts)
The apple of God's eye
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.
He encircled [me], He instructed [me],
He kept [me] as the apple of His eye.
For he who touches [me] touches the apple of His eye.
Psalm 17:8, Deuteronomy 32:10, Zechariah 2:8
A wonderful reminder
Last October 9, Annie, a mother whom I just knew the previous month, kindly gave me this wonderful reminder. This reminder ring is an answer to prayer. I had been looking for a simple thing I could carry with me that would remind me of the importance of holiness and purity in God's eye, whether purity in mind, motives, and/or body.
As Christians, each one of us needs constant reminders about many things. Each week, the Lord's Supper reminds us of God’s ultimate love and holiness (by remembering the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ). Most of us read God's Word daily not only to get our spiritual food for the day, but also to be reminded of who God is, what He has done to us, and what we should do in respond to His love and holiness that will bring glory to Him.
Surely there are many other ways Christians can do to remind themselves of the aforementioned things. I’d like to share this particular reminder about purity, and I pray this will encourage all of us. Often times our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.
Romans 12 : 1 – 2:
“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.”
What is the “THEREFORE” there for?
To answer this question, the previous passages (Romans 1 through 11) must be considered. This is the only way we can fully understand what the “THEREFORE” is there for. The following reasons were obtained (but much more could have been added to the list):
By God’s grace through faith in my Lord Jesus Christ, He has saved me (Romans 1).
By the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, He has led me to repentance (Romans 2).
By His grace through the redemption in Christ, I’m freely justified (Romans 3).
I no longer live under law but under grace (Romans 4).
I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5).
I’m now dead to sin but alive to God, and that I have eternal life in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 6).
I have become dead to the law and have been delivered from the law (Romans 7).
I’m in Christ and thus, there is no more condemnation (Romans 8).
I know that all things work together for good to anyone who loves God (Romans 8).
I will never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8).
For there is no unrighteousness with God (Romans 9).
By confessing with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believing in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, I’m saved (Romans 10).
The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Romans 11).
God’s judgments that are unsearchable and His ways that are past finding out (Romans 11).
For Him and through Him and to Him who are all things, to whom be glory forever (Romans 11).
So what then?
For all of those marvelous things above, THEREFORE, by the mercies of God, I’m entreated to present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is my reasonable service. Also, for the above compelling reasons, THEREFORE, I must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It is clear from Romans 12:1-2 that God desires purity in my mind (which includes motives) and my body.
If my God and my Lord Jesus Christ has given me everything, including His body, if He has indeed set me free from any kind of bondage by His death and resurrection, no sacrifice is too great to make for Him. “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demand my heart, my life, my all.” (Isaac Watts)
The apple of God's eye
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.
He encircled [me], He instructed [me],
He kept [me] as the apple of His eye.
For he who touches [me] touches the apple of His eye.
Psalm 17:8, Deuteronomy 32:10, Zechariah 2:8
posted by Lenny @ 10/21/2007 08:10:00 PM
