Transformation

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1)

During World War II, uncle Ed, a naval aviator, went into a barber shop to get a shave, and since the manucurist was really beautiful, he asked for a manicure at the same time. He kept looking at her, really taken with her, and finally said, "How about going out with me tonight?" She said, "No, I'm married." He said, "Well, just tell your husband you're busy tonight." "Tell him yourself," she said. "He's shaving you." How I am going to seque this into the devotional I'm not quite sure. Thought a little lite laughter would be in order. Great way to start the day.

James M. Gray, an episcopal clergyman, spoke on Romans 12: 1 asked this question, "Have you noticed that this verse does not tell us to whom we should give our bodies?" In his reflection stated, "It is not the Lord Jesus, He has his own body. It is not the Father, He remains on the throne. Another has come to earth without a body. God gives us the indescribable honor of presenting our bodies to be His dwelling place on earth."

I don't know about you, but  do know about me. I have too often treated the Holy Spirit like a servant, a slave if you will, I call for Him when I need something. He is to be at my beck and call, ready to provide my every wants and desires. Reflecting on that for the moment, we should be ready from this moment on to say, "Lord, I give you my body, from my head to my feet. My hands, my eyes, my lips, my brain. You may send this body to Africa, or lay it on a bed with cancer, it is your body from this moment on." Now, we are ready to be used by God to further His kingdom. Jesus came and proclaimed that "The time has come," he said, "Kingdom is near. repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15)! Jesus in his parable would say, "The Kingdom is like," and then give the parable. He was speaking to us, we are the visible representative of that Kingdom. We have the indescribable joy of bringing that "Good News" to our world. It can only be done when we fully surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work through us. That old hymn rings so true, "I Surrender All."

I believe that things might have worked out different for uncle Ed if he had known the full story. I don't know the ending for him that day but I do know the ending for those who do not accept the "Good News of Salvation." The question I must ask myself, and so do you, as a professing Christian, "Am I willing "to offer my body as a living sacrifice?" If so Paul writes how this is done, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). Paul has given instruction on what I am to do and how to do it. Now it is up to me!

Daily Prayer:

Father forgive me for treating the Holy Spirit as a servant to do my bidding. Take my life, my body, use it as you will. I am yours. Thank you for my salvation, give me a burden for the lost, and Holy Spirit use my body I offer it up to you.                                             Amen