UGH!!!
That’s what I don’t like about this Christianity gig – telling me what I can and can’t do!
Well, yes. And no.
Even as a Christian you can do whatever you want to.
It’s when we examine all God has done for us that we begin to see how valuable we are to Him. We start to realize how vast His love for us is.
Then, just like a little child reaching up to Mom or Dad, we surrender to our Heavenly Father. We realize that we are treasures to Him and yield ourselves to Him completely.
That’s the giving up our bodies. As believers we surrender all we are to the care and control of our Savior. We recognize who He is and what He has done and give up, no longer needing to hold the reins of our lives.
As for being able to do what you want, holding back this sacrifice, this surrender? Read that last sentence of Romans 12:1.
This is truly the way
to worship Him.
Other translations of the Bible say,
“…which is your reasonable – rational, intelligent – service and spiritual worship.” AMPC
“…which is your rational – logical, intelligent – act of worship.” AMP
“…which is your spiritual service of worship.” NASB
“That’s the most sensible way to serve God.” CEV
So, giving up ourselves, physical and spiritual, isn’t just a matter of pleasing God, it’s the sensible and intelligent way to worship Him.
Mind you, this isn’t the kind of sacrifice of laying down on an altar to be killed by the priest(ess). It’s not flailing yourself with chains or cutting yourself with knives or crops. It’s not changing your appearance to look like someone else. It’s not dressing like all the others.
It is freedom in your sacrifice, a freedom that begins in your heart at the moment of salvation.
Giving up your body goes along with what’s happened in your heart and soul. You give up control of your spiritual self, it makes sense to give up control of your physical self, too.
When you do, be prepared to receive the blessings that come from pleasing God and being fully in worship of Him.
Be prepared to walk in a new life, to think differently, to have peace and be able to enjoy life even in the hard times. Be ready. This sacrifice opens you up to the amazing blessings of the Father who treasures you and gave Himself for you.
Are there places where you’ve not surrendered yourself physically? Talk to God today about those. You won’t regret it.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
