Reasonable Service

REASONABLE SERVICE

Romans 11:33-12:2

[33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! [34] For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? [35] Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? [36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

[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. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [NKJV]

OPENING REMARKS

1. Have you ever been on top of a mountain to look out over the beauty of the valley below?

The Lookout

When I was young (around 6 / 8 yrs. old) – my parents would take my sister and me up to

“The Lookout” in Iroquois Park in Louisville, KY. At this point we were able to view all the different homes and streets below.

. I can still remember looking out in every direction and as-far-as my eye could see there was some new and fantastic site to behold.

Colorado

Once when we vacationed out West, in Colorado – I remember sitting (actually standing – I was very short) in the back of the car and looking out the windshield and seeing the mountains in the distance. This was the most awesome and majestic site that I had ever seen. To this day in my mind’s eye I can still picture that blue sky and the snow covered mountains. I keep a picture in my study of a scene from Yellowstone National Park – which is a reminder to me of the wondrous beauty of the West.

. I can just imagine what it must have been for Moses on Mt. Nebo to view the promise land of Canaan – I wonder what fantastic sites he beheld – Deut 32:48-49.

Blairsville

. In the summer of 2006 – Cindy and I vacationed in Savannah, Georgia – on the way back we stopped in the mountain region of northern Georgia (Blairsville). While there we went to the highest point in the state and at the observation post we were able to look out for miles at all the beautiful natural scenery.

. Again, I can just imagine perhaps this is some of what the Psalmist meant when he wrote concerning the majesty of the Lord –

Ps 145:3-5.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. (NKJV)

2. Have you ever been reading in God’s Word and you get this impression that you are on one of God’s mountain tops able to just look about and observe the marvelous wonders of the Lord?

Holy Ground

Whenever we come to these places in the Scripture (such as) –

. Psalm 148 | speaks of God’s creation praising Him

. Isaiah 6:1-4 | speaks of God’s holiness

. Philippians 2:5-11 | speaks of the humbleness of Christ becoming a man to die for sinners, etc.

– don’t you just feel like you are upon “Holy Ground” and that you should be like Moses of old and remove your spiritual sandals due to the Word declaring such marvelous wonders about the Lord.

The Text – Holy Ground

Our text is such a place – a mountainous view in God’s Word – especially 11:33-36 – for here we see the majesty of God exclaimed for all who dare read and see who the true and living God is declared to be.

v. 33a - The depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God – He knows how to do

all things perfectly.

v. 33b - How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out – He plans and directs

all things to execute His purposes.

v. 34-35 - Who has known God’s mind, been His counselor, given unto Him – of course the

answer is no-one.

v. 36 - For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. – cf.

Colossians 1:15-17

He [Christ Jesus – v. 3, 13] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.