Today's Devotional Thought
March 23, 2010 by Rachel Piferi
Living Sacrifices
If someone was to watch your behavior on a typical day, would they describe it as worshipping God? When you are interacting with your coworkers or family or friends or enemies, would your actions demonstrate worship of the Lord? According to Paul in Romans 12, they should.
In today’s chapter of Romans, Paul is instructing us on how to treat other people. In the latter part of the chapter, he instructs us to do many things for others. Among his instructions are to be devoted to one another, to honor one another above ourselves, to share with those who are in need, to practice hospitality, to bless those who persecute you, to not be conceited, to not be proud, to not repay evil with evil, to not take revenge, and to feed our enemies. Through these verses (v. 9-20), he is instructing us to take mercy on others and to show them the love of Christ through our actions, even when they don’t deserve it.
His instructions to treat others with mercy parallel the mercy that we have received. And, this chapter begins with that very point. In verse 1, Paul writes, “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.???
As you see in the progression of this chapter, Paul begins by reminding us of the mercy that God has shown us through the death of his son Jesus Christ. He then proceeds by telling us that we can worship God by extending this same mercy to others in our actions. When he instructs us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, he is telling us to offer our behaviors and actions to God and that by behaving in a way that is pleasing to him, we are worshipping him.
Our merciful behaviors towards others model God’s mercy towards us. And, we can worship God and show our gratitude for this mercy by extending this same mercy to those around us. So, these merciful behaviors that Paul instructs us to do for others really begin as worship to the Lord.
The next time someone wrongs you, remember this chapter. Remember how we are to show mercy to everyone and treat them with Christ’s love because we have also been given the same mercy from God. But, take it one step further and remember that this extension of mercy is actually a way to worship God. By mercifully behaving towards others with love, we are worshipping the Lord by offering our physical bodies and behaviors to him.
Worship the Lord today by showing love and mercy and forgiveness and compassion to someone else. Offer your behaviors to him as worship.
December