Acceptable No Exceptions

Scriptures: Romans 12: 1-2 -  I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and 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
Romans 15:4 - For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and the comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

 Romans 12:1-2 -  This undeniable challenge did not come from Saul a religious man who spent a portion of his life being taught by Gamaliel his Jewish instructor. But this undeniable challenge came from Paul a regenerated man who had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, while he was on the Damascus Road. Acts 9:1-16 -  He believed in his heart that persecuting the Church was acceptable before a Holy God. Paul’s personal encounter with Jesus Christ was similar to David’s personal encounter with Jehovah God.

Paul gives us the foundation for Christian Living, his challenge was one of great demand. God Himself placed a call on his life to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles. The man who called himself the Chief of Sinners was telling the Christians how to conduct themselves for the cause of Christ. He appealed to their will, their emotions and their choices when it came to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ’s Mercies were given because of HIS Great Love for them, a sacrificial Lamb without blemish to an ungodly, undeserving and unworthy group of sinners.

God’s holy standard should always be our aim when it comes to serving Him. In Genesis 4:3-7 - Cain being a tiller of the ground presented to the Lord an offering of fruit. Abel his brother a keeper of the flock presented to the Lord the first born of his flock and of their fat. 4 And the Lord respected Abel and his offering. 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Saints of the living God when it comes to serving our Lord Jesus, what do we offer Him as being His servant? Do you seek to worship Him first before you seek to serve Him? Is being near Him greater than serving Him? Are your serving Him with a glad heart or a complaining heart?  In all that you do or say is it Holy and acceptable before our Lord who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light?

Are we allowing the Word of God to transform us daily to be more and more like Jesus?  What standards are we living by, is it Christ’s standards or the world standards?

Prayer: Abba Father in the name of my great king of glory Jesus I bow.  Upon reading this great challenge coming from Romans 12 :1-2 -  I confess and thank you that I need to be reminded daily that my act of service for You must be accepted by You. Like Paul I seek to make it my aim whether present or absent to be well pleasing to Him.

(by Debbie Meadows)