Romans 1-2 (MSG) "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
Well, I don't know about you... but my life (most of the time) seems anything but ordinary! Most days seem incredibly chaotic... get up, take the boys to school, go to work (or to any number of doctor appointments), pick up boys from school, karate, soccer, church, choir practice, homework, eat, bathe, feed & take care of dogs, laundry, dishes, more work... and so on! THOSE are the days that I struggle to "place before God as an offering." But God's word is clear... it says "place your EVERYDAY life...."! We must take the time to give Him everything, our everyday lives, and every piece of us. And sometimes, I simply fail at this!!
I found out yesterday that my doctor is increasing the dosage of one of my really strong meds (a chemo pill). I was just getting to the point where I was only "on bed rest" one day a week (Thursdays... after taking the meds on Wednesday evenings). Fridays and Saturdays were still a little "yucky", but I could a least do light housework and even get out of the house a little. I'm praying that as I increase the dosage (beginning tonight) the affects won't be too bad. THESE are also days I struggle to "place before God as an offering." I'm finding it easier and easier to lay around and just cry out to God. Which, isn't terrible in and of itself, but I'm finding that I'm WHINING more than I'm PRAISING sometimes. Does that ever happen to you? SHAME ON ME!! God has done so much in my life and blessed me far more than I could ever possibly deserve. Lord forgive me for sometimes allowing myself to sink into a pity party instead of praising You through every circumstance as I should!! Let my heart and soul cry out to you for mercy and sing of Your unending love and grace!
I love the promises of the scripture above. IF we give Him our everyday lives.... He will change us from the inside out! It says that He (unlike the world) brings out the best in us. We've all had experiences of being around people (sometimes even family) that....well..... brought out the worst in us. But God brings out our best. He is on our side!! I'm so thankful that even as I sit and type this, feeling somewhat inadequate and frustrated because I often fail Him by not completely giving Him everything... He not only takes me as I am, but He "brings out the best in me." He freely offers me mercy, grace, joy, love, hope, and riches beyond measure!! And I can rest in Him - safe and secure! He always carries me in the palm of His hand. He calls me His. He has called me, equipped me for ministry, and set me apart for His purposes. He loves me. PERIOD. And in return.... He simply wants my love, my worship, my praise, and for me to live my everyday life for Him. He will carry my burdens for me.... so why should I hold onto them? Lord, HELP ME to give everything to You... let me be a living sacrifice before you each and every day, offering everyday of my life to You and to Your service!
Here is the rest of Romans 12 (verses 3-21, The Message version). Chew on it, soak it up, read other versions.... take it to heart! God bless you!
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
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