Romans 12:1-I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
A mother sought the pardon of her son from the first Napoleon. The emperor said it was his second offense, and justice demanded his death. "I don't ask for justice," demanded his mother, "I plead for mercy." "But," said the emperor, "he does not deserve mercy." "Sire," cried the mother, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," said the emperor, "I will have mercy." And her son was saved.
Have you every noticed that people are willing to sacrifice for the things they really want.
When we are thirsty or hungry for something, we will do whatever it takes to full fill that desire, nothing can stand in our way.
There is no limit to what we will do or give up or what we are willing to sacrifice to get the things we want!
Many people want to live the American dream, to buy a house, to drive a new car, to go on great vacations and they have to sacrifice to achieve that!
They will put in overtime, they will go in early and stay late, they will even work thru their lunch or work sick, just to get what their heart desires.
What are you willing to sacrifice for God?
What are you willing to do to glorify His name!!
You see, you can’t make anybody worship God, (One day will happen) but right now it is a voluntary action!
You should do it because you want to!
“The goal of Christian spirituality is not information; it is transformation into the likeness of Christ.”
To many Christians got information, without any transformation!
BY THE MERCIES OF GOD-If we were in a court today, and it was being presented to us why we should serve God and what kind of servant we should be, these words right here would be the evidence, that would be the smoking gun, that would be the final remarks that would sway the jury…that would convince us to be a living sacrifice for God!
You should have been in Sunday School, if for no other reason than…His Mercy!
You should be glad you’re here this morning, if for no other reason than…His Mercy!
His mercy watched over you all night long!
His mercy woke you up this morning!
His mercy lets you breathe that next breath!
His mercy, looks beyond your faults and looks at your potential!
The fact that I’m on top of the ground and the ground is not on top of me…..My God Is Merciful!
When Thomas Hooker lay dying, a friend said, 'Brother, are you going to receive the reward of your labors."" He humbly replied, 'Brother, I am going to receive mercy."
Romans 12:1-2 (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.”
Present-Like handing over of a gift.
The verb “present” in this verse means “present once and for all.”
Will you give Him your life today?
