“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.” Romans 12:1

Reasonable Service

This verse has always stunned me into paying attention. Paul’s encouragement (urging or beseeching) is because this should be my response in view of God’s incredible mercies of allowing me (sinner) into His presence because Jesus suffered on the cross for humankind (and me) as a freewill offering.

How often do I find myself whining because I know what God’s will in a situation is, but I don’t want to do it because I have my own plans or it’s uncomfortable. If I’m truly listening and desiring to follow and please the LORD, talking to my neighbor when I don’t “feel” like it, going the extra mile for my friend or even my husband, and so on.

Jesus’ life on earth certainly wasn’t “comfortable” many times, and especially when He paid the ultimate price for our sin, but He always did what “pleased the Father.” The tasks the LORD puts before us are not burdensome: “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

My true desire is to please the Father and my Lord Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit He enables me to accomplish what He puts before me, one step at a time, because His Yoke is easy and burden is light. The Amplified Bible version of the above verse says that our reasonable service is the rational, logical, intelligent act of worship to God.

Living holy and pure, available to Him for blessing others, is my calling. Sometimes I don’t understand His promptings or what’s going on, sometimes it may be just waiting on Him for the impossible; it’s a walk of faith and trust. Taking the first step can be the hardest. My flesh and the devil have told me that “this will hurt”; but after that step its not so bad and I’m encouraged by knowing I have My Father’s smile.

So I will continue knowing His goal is before me and even though I can’t see clearly, and may hear distracting voices, I don’t feel good, or am worried about what others may think, He has this and I can follow Him one step at a time, because this is my reasonable service and worship.

Praying we’re all encouraged today to live in the marvelous light of His will through the empowering of His Word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, knowing it’s the right thing and we’re pleasing the Father.

“Thank You, Jesus, for always doing what pleased the Father and doing the ultimate “hard thing” for us on the cross. Help us to live and walk in Your love and truth! Amen.”