2025-07-04
Good morning, Dear Ones,
The book of Romans is the most concise presentation of Christian theology found in the Scriptures (chapters 1-11), as well as the best “how to” be a good Christian (chapters 12-16). The fundamental truths therein are incredibly valuable to all of us. That is why the Holy Spirit leads me to unpack some of the truths of RO 12 as we examine serving the Lord as a means of worship. RO 12: 1-2 is worth memorizing: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Humble service in the body of Christ is essential. We’re told to not think more highly of ourselves than we should, but instead to consider and act on the needs of others. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have self-esteem; it just means that with deep faith in the Lord, we should be motivated to serve Him in accordance with our faith. RO 12: 4-5, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, through many, for one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” In last week’s devotion, the Holy Spirit had me writing about different skill sets for different people that can be used to do God’s work. The next few verses speak of prophesying, teaching, diligent leadership, giving, and showing mercy. You’ll remember that Joseph [GN 41: 12-16] and Daniel [DN 1: 17], even though they were in captivity in Egypt and Babylon, were found to have the ability to interpret dreams, for example. Both men used their talents to change the course of history. None of us knows if something we do for the Lord will have that much impact, but surely our good service can have a beneficial effect on those we are serving.
Many of us can look back on our lives and remember certain teachers that we had whose examples had a beneficial impact on our lives. At one point, I personally was headed for some serious trouble. Then, I remembered a teacher whose kindness toward me helped me to extricate myself from that trouble. It made me want to be like her, and the Lord was taking His first step in preparing me to serve Him. Becoming a leader who pleases the Lord has numerous aspects to it. It not only means kindness and caring, but it also means learning how to be a team builder and helping each member of the team to have a stake in the action. People who get into leadership positions and refuse to delegate eventually find themselves in over their heads. People who don’t know what they should be doing and take it out on their subordinates produce a toxic workplace. The latter shows a lack of understanding of the Lord’s will. Not everyone has the means to be a generous giver. Abraham, in GN 14: 17-20, celebrated the victory at Chedorlaomer with Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High, praised the Lord and gave him a tenth of all gained. That was the first tithe. We should be cheerful givers in accordance with 2 COR 9: 7. Those with hearts that give freely to the poor will not be forgotten for their generosity and righteousness [2 COR 9:9]. Having mercy toward others is godly behavior. It shows a kind of spiritual maturity that pleases the Lord. After all, He has had unbelievable mercy toward us, since we are sinners and He is giving us a way out by His atoning sacrifice on the cross! I feel mercy is closely coupled with forgiveness. Nothing constructive ever comes from holding grudges.
We learn what love is and how to love from the example set by our Lord Jesus Christ. Giving one’s life for those who were enemies at the time, as He did, is the quintessential demonstration of love. Love includes action taken for the benefit of others. RO 12: 9-10, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
PRAYER: O Lord, we must come to understand that we have a vertical relationship with You and a horizontal relationship with other humans around us. The cross that this way of looking at things represent the cross that our Lord Jesus suffered and upon which He gave up His physical life. That was done so that we could be saved, justified, and our sins could be eternally forgiven [JN 3: 16; RO 4: 3; 1 JN 1: 9]. When we serve You, You reward us with inner peace and satisfaction. You help us to discover and use the skills that You have given us. We take this opportunity to express our desire to serve You and our loyalty, love, devotion, praise, and thanksgiving, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit directs me to continue unpacking RO 12 and to begin with discussing love. The concept of belonging to one another can yield some remarkable and pleasing surprises. I have a friend who was an Atheist for most of her life. Her husband didn’t start out as a believer either and is incarcerated for a crime he committed. The Lord brought this friend to a church I was attending and used His goodness to bring her to faith. At the same time, He brought her imprisoned husband to faith. This couple speak to each other on the phone but can’t be together for now. At the same time, good things began to happen for them, and they could see the contrast between their lives now and the way they had been. This is what is meant by AC 1: 8, “But you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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