by: Jason Watford
Romans 12:1-2, “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. 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.”
People today are looking for the “deeper truths” from the Word of God; however, Christianity is so simple that even a little child can understand it. Notice that I did not say that Christianity was easy; however, it is easy to understand. Christianity has always been the same. One should get saved, baptized and then start living for God. Many times other Christians try to “play” the Holy Spirit in another Christian’s life, but a legitimate saved person will not have to be pushed to do anything, they will WANT to do everything they can for the Lord.
There are many examples in Scriptures where Jesus (our Earthly Example) won someone to the Lord and did not preach on being clothed, yet the person saved started in their right mind to put on clothes. Or, the time when Jesus healed a demonic man. The next time you hear of him he is sitting in church. The Holy Spirit lives inside Christians and will convict them of sin and teach them all things. Allow me to give you some simple truths I see from Romans 12:1-2.
1. “Brethren”…These verses are to saved people in the local church.
Verse one reads “brethren”. These are not lost people. Therefore, whatever is about to be said, it is being said to saved individuals who have the Holy Spirit living in them.
2. “That ye present your body” does not mean to present your heart.
We live in a day where people misconstrue words or phrases to make it what we want it to say. This phrase it talking about your actual body; what others see when they see you. We are commanded to give or present willingly our own bodies to Jesus. This should answer the tattoo questions. This should answer the clothing questions. This should answer all the hair questions. When you present your body to Christ, it is no longer about what you and I want. If you are saved, the Holy Spirit will teach you and tell you exactly what you should look like and be like. Let’s stop asking “Why can’t we do …” and just present our bodies to God and say that we are His.
3. “A living sacrifice” means while you are alive.
We should live everyday in a way that other people should be able to LOOK at our BODIES and tell that we are Christians. No one ever sees a military soldier in uniform and wonders what he/she is. Hence, no one should ever see us and wonder what we (Christians) are.
4. “Which is your reasonable service” means that Jesus is not asking that much of us to do this.
If Jesus gave all he had for us, is it really that much to ask that we LOOK like we should. What is wrong with Christians looking like Christians? It is reasonable for saved people to allow our body to look like we are saved. I challenge Christians today, to not only be saved, to not only love the Lord, but to look like it in public not only with your heart but with your body also.
Jason Watford
Pastor
Spring Creek Baptist Church
Seven Springs, NC