By: Dr. Jeff Fuller
How are we to live in this world which is so evil and perverse? Perverting and slandering the Word of God brings such pain to the heart of believers; the world has become more and more liberal, sinful, sorrowful and contradictory the believer finds himself in a world so much more like that of a pagan world than ever before.
David asked the question, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3 KJV) If you are not seeing the foundations crumble then you have your head in the sand. The family, education, the government, even the church is coming apart at the seams; we are seeing the very seams pulled apart by the evil one this very day. What are the righteous to do?
With that in mind, how are we to live?
Living for Jesus has even become dangerous!
“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.” (Romans 12:1-2 KJV)
The first eleven chapters are worthy of your time to read. Paul says, “I have stated my argument and now let us focus on the application.” He encourages us to live in such a way that we show our dedication and complete devotion to God in all things.
Grace does not lead to a license to sin, but to a freedom from the weights and chains that bind us and hold us down, confining us and condemning us in this life and the life to come. Read the second chapter of Ephesians and underline the words, “Once were…” We are reminded that grace is God’s gift and the gift of grace gives us the opportunity to serve Him in a pure, righteous way.
It is His mercy shown to us, a mercy that reminds us we are undeserving, unworthy of the kindness and compassion given to us through the cross and the death and resurrection of Christ. Barnes states, “The particular mercy to which the apostle here refers, is that shown to those whom he was addressing. He had proved that all were by nature under sin; that they had no claim on God; and that he had showed great compassion in giving his Son to die for them in this state, and in pardoning their sins. This was a ground or reason why they should devote themselves to God.”
Therefore, we are to “present” ourselves free and voluntarily to God, “our bodies,” which means ourselves-the entire person-to the service of God. Not withholding anything, giving up all rights to ourselves. It means opening all the doors of our life to His usefulness. It means surrendering ourselves as “living sacrifices” to Him and to His service. This is our “holy…acceptable…” service to Him.
Are you wholly surrendered to Him? Is He allowed to work in your life without being hindered or constrained?
Remember the song:
“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give:
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender, Make me Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and Spirit, Let Thy blessings fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
(By Judson W. Van DeVenter)
The disciples said to Jesus, “We have left all we had to follow you!” (Luke 18:28 NKJV)
Is this something you can say today?
Until next time…