CoreIssue
02-03-2006, 09:49 AM
Quote:Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, 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[1] act of worship.
Because God in his grace and mercy has done so much for us we have a duty and should have a desire to be as pleasing to him in return.
Even at the cost of sacrifice and loss in worldly terms.
Quote:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We need to stop seeking success and acceptance in worldly terms and understand that all such gain is lost in the end. That only gain acceptable in the eyes of God will endure for eternity.
Quote:Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The more you understand what God wants the better you will understand why it is so valuable and what it accomplishes.
Quote:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
The more you see yourselves as God and the Bible see you the less your self pride and ego will be. You will see how you fail often and lack greatly.
Then your faith in God's guidance will increase and you will see better and succeed more. You will see yourself and others as co-workers and not leaders.
Quote:4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
No one possesses all the gifts and abilities needed for success. Someone is always greater at something than you are.
Quote:5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
When we recognize this reality and that we must work together then we become one in purpose as a group, not as individuals. And this group effort is superior to any individual.
Quote:6We have different gifts,
We all differ in gifting or giftings. There is no one such universal gift as some dealing with tongues like to proclaim.
Quote:according to the grace given us.
Gifts are by grace. Not by our earning.
Quote:If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[2] faith.
Prophecy is a unique gift. Its power and extent is in direct relationship to faith in God. That is because one must allow the Holy Spirit to work deeply for this gift to function.
It does not make on superior.
Quote:7If it is serving, let him serve;
Aiding in the accomplishment of one with a different gift is a gift. It is part of the gift since the one with the other gift could never accomplish all on their own.
Quote:if it is teaching, let him teach;
Teaching is such a critical gift. All the understanding in the world does not give one the ability to share and convey it to others.
Quote:8if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
We all need to be told to keep working at it. Silence is deadly to those fighting. It can make them feel alone and failing.
Quote:if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
Some are gifted with the ability of accumulating resources. Others are not but gifted in ways that require these resources.
Again one gift enabling and supporting another.
Quote:if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
Someone has to coordinate efforts and put the pieces of the puzzle the group brings with them together in a meaningful way.
Quote:if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
A hard gift to perform. So many showing mercy get hurt.
They should be glad in their successes and know in their failures that these will happen.
To not try is to guarantee complete failure and the waste of such a powerful gift.
1Therefore, 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[1] act of worship.
Because God in his grace and mercy has done so much for us we have a duty and should have a desire to be as pleasing to him in return.
Even at the cost of sacrifice and loss in worldly terms.
Quote:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We need to stop seeking success and acceptance in worldly terms and understand that all such gain is lost in the end. That only gain acceptable in the eyes of God will endure for eternity.
Quote:Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The more you understand what God wants the better you will understand why it is so valuable and what it accomplishes.
Quote:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
The more you see yourselves as God and the Bible see you the less your self pride and ego will be. You will see how you fail often and lack greatly.
Then your faith in God's guidance will increase and you will see better and succeed more. You will see yourself and others as co-workers and not leaders.
Quote:4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
No one possesses all the gifts and abilities needed for success. Someone is always greater at something than you are.
Quote:5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
When we recognize this reality and that we must work together then we become one in purpose as a group, not as individuals. And this group effort is superior to any individual.
Quote:6We have different gifts,
We all differ in gifting or giftings. There is no one such universal gift as some dealing with tongues like to proclaim.
Quote:according to the grace given us.
Gifts are by grace. Not by our earning.
Quote:If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[2] faith.
Prophecy is a unique gift. Its power and extent is in direct relationship to faith in God. That is because one must allow the Holy Spirit to work deeply for this gift to function.
It does not make on superior.
Quote:7If it is serving, let him serve;
Aiding in the accomplishment of one with a different gift is a gift. It is part of the gift since the one with the other gift could never accomplish all on their own.
Quote:if it is teaching, let him teach;
Teaching is such a critical gift. All the understanding in the world does not give one the ability to share and convey it to others.
Quote:8if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
We all need to be told to keep working at it. Silence is deadly to those fighting. It can make them feel alone and failing.
Quote:if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
Some are gifted with the ability of accumulating resources. Others are not but gifted in ways that require these resources.
Again one gift enabling and supporting another.
Quote:if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
Someone has to coordinate efforts and put the pieces of the puzzle the group brings with them together in a meaningful way.
Quote:if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
A hard gift to perform. So many showing mercy get hurt.
They should be glad in their successes and know in their failures that these will happen.
To not try is to guarantee complete failure and the waste of such a powerful gift.