Serving the Lord!

Hello Readers!
God’s Peace! As I sat down to write this article this week, I decided to check over some of the other articles given to me to include in this blog. I came across this one by Pastor Rod Johnson that I thought very fitting, as so many of you are faithfully in the service of the Lord in your own countries. I trust that you will be encouraged by the message and in your service in HIS KINGDOM! In Christ, John “Your Foreign Mission administrator.” Jthree16@comcast.net www.themissionsite.com

Serving the Lord!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Our Christianity is expressed in love toward God as well as in love toward our neighbor. These working together are spiritual acts of worship because through them we are serving God. This should not to be considered as a heavy demand, but rather those done with a willing heart, mind and spirit in love. Christianity requires living it, not only believing and thinking about it, but Faith expressing itself in love and obedience to the Word of God with Jesus Christ being Lord of every area of our life.

The Apostle Paul in this chapter gives guidelines for living as a redeemed people in a fallen world. Therefore: As a result of the work of grace, having received the gift of faith, it is expected that we become living sacrifices because we possess a new life in the Holy Spirit. That we may be able to follow Jesus daily laying aside our own human desires This we endeavor to do out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven through the Blood of the Cross of Jesus Christ. A living sacrifice of love without hypocrisy!

Our ‘reasonable service’, which is a spiritual act of worship, is not a mere ritual activity, BUT the involvement of heart, mind and will. NOT a pronouncement of a great spiritual dictate or command, BUT rather an encouragement to so live life as Jesus Christ directs us in “Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves”. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4

We are led to become a ‘transformed people by the renewing of the mind’, living to honor and obey the Lord Jesus. Being transformed is to exhibit a markedly changed nature; of thought and will relating to morality, God’s Word, our neighbor and our attitudes. Changed from: self-serving, selfish, greedy, lustful, vengeful, angry, sinners -- To: Those who are under the control of the Holy Spirit endeavoring to live by the Spirit in love to God and man. Why? Because He gave His Son to make this new live possible. Therefore, we should with joy give ourselves for His service.

The threefold enemy, the devil, the world and our flesh, constantly project the world’s immorality with its corruptive ways into our lives. Therefore, NOT conforming to this world's values must go deeper than the level of behavior and customs--it must also be firmly planted in our minds--"by the transforming of the mind." We recognize that it is possible to avoid many worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only by the Holy Spirit’s renewal, can we be truly transformed. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

By so living, “…Ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” and that Jesus Christ is Lord because “The world can see we are Christians by our love.”
Serving the Lord together with you,
In Christ Jesus,
God’s Peace!
Pr. Rod

Please let me know how you are doing! I wish to pray for each servant that is the work of the Lord! Thanks, John