Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12 NASB
There's no such thing as inactive cells in a live body. As in cells that are a part of that body yet do nothing to support, uphold, or participate in living.
Reading in Joshua 21 today therein we see this proclamation "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; everything came to pass."
We read also: "So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin." in James 4:17 NASB.
What is it God's directed you to do, through the Spirit, that you are not doing because of your excuses?
Many don't because of fear. Some because of not liking change. It's not like they used to enjoy. Many have just gotten comfortable disobeying! God didn't apparently mind them not going to Church or mind them in their taking the time due Him and giving it to other people or things or events so why bother?
Why bother? We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We who are in Christ have something to contribute, something to be doing. Just as active, living, cells do in the body of anything with the breath of life in it.
Many become disenchanted with the Church. So many changes, it closed, this or that excuse.
Read this well: There are NO REASONS to not participate in the body of Christ, ONLY EXCUSES.
Read in the Gospels this:
"But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ And yet they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I purchased a field and I need to go out to look at it; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I took a woman as my wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here those who are poor, those with disabilities, those who are blind, and those who are limping.’ And later the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and the hedges and press upon them to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my dinner.’” Luke 14:16-24 NASB
At one point there were many dozens more Disciples than just the 12. Many fell away because of the excuse of things Jesus saying being difficult to understand.
We need to realize the sobering truth of this and take it to heart: Romans 14:12 NASB "So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." and 1 Peter 4:5-6 NASB "but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God."
Living in the spirit according to the will of God.
Will you be stammering before Jesus with a list of excuses? None of which will excuse you or I from a real reason for not obeying the will of God for us?
When we came to Christ we were made alive in Christ. We became part of the living not the dead. We were to become a light in the world by way of the Spirit within us. We were given gifts in the Spirit that we will be giving an accounting of. Will you be giving a positive accounting of what you were given? Or will you be ashamed?
Shame awaits those with nothing but excuses as to why they didn't obey in doing what the Spirit guided them to be doing. Shame awaits those who came to Christ yet lived self-centered selfish lives.
Shame awaits those who intentionally remained in sin rather than repenting of it and leading a life that honors God.
What will you be experiencing when you face Jesus face-to-face?
Moses put before the sons of Israel life and death. Blessing and curses depending on their obedience to the Word of God.
It's not too late. Turn back to Jesus now while you have the chance.
So things aren't what they were. So this isn't the same or that isn't the same. If you are serious about living for Jesus, ask Him where you should be and should be growing in Christ. It may mean driving a distance to obey. It may mean moving, a job change. It may mean going nowhere but being open to being that avenue to starting a Bible Study or maybe even a Church where you are. We are not here for health, wealth or prosperity. We are here to be workers in the harvest of God the Father. We aren't here to get the most out of life for ourselves.
Reflect on these things today. Be sensitive to the Spirit of God talking to you. Be the same as what Isaiah said "Here am I!".
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