Romans 12:1

Brothers and sisters, in light of all that I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.

 

 

 

Brothers and sisters. 

Paul calls you “brother or sister.” Who is your brother or sister? The one whose father is the same as your own. ,…..He believes God is the One Father, He alone can be called “Father,” “Abba.”

 

That’s why this relationship. And with a concern for his brothers and sisters, he is saying, “in light of all that I have shared with you about God’s mercies.”

 

Yes, we have to remember everyday,…. the enormous amount of blessing, that  God has showered upon us, and keeps on showering upon us.

 

And he keeps on going, so  I urge you to offer,….. Yes, we need to offer something. 

Any time you come in front of God, you ask God to offer you so many things. ….But what do you offer Him ?

 

Paul says, “you need to offer your bodies.”

 

Your body, as 1 Corinthians 3:16ff, he says, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

 

 

God does not reside in the cathedral, doesn’t reside in so-called structures of any denomination whatsoever…. He loves to reside in living bodies of human being.  AND That is His favorite residence.

 

And if you would give that to Him as a living, holy sacrifice to God, ..That’s all what God is asking you. A sacred offering. That brings Him pleasure.

 

 

Yes, it is. That alone pleases God. Not your tithe, not your generous donation, not your big congregation and charity foundations, not your propaganda, not your network, not the so many ministries. And most often you propagate,  your own self. It doesn’t give God pleasure.

 

Offering your body as a sacrifice, a sacred offering—that is your reasonable offering… It makes sense, and essential….. Essential means it is a necessity in worship.

 

Abba, Thank You for instructing us,  through St. Paul to offer our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. Let Your Spirit make us realize the things that we need to get rid of, to offer it as a sacred offering that pleases you. In Jesus’ Most Holy Name, Amen.