WE NEED TO KNOW GOD’S PLAN…
”…In view of God’s mercy, …offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
In light of all God has not done to us (mercy), we have a strong desire to serve Him. But this desire persists only if we bear in mind what Jesus bore for us - namely our sin. Our sacrifice to God must come from the place of recognizing His work in us, so that we have the proper motive. This is when sacrifice is truly worship, otherwise we will only think about what we are giving up. So, to avoid this kind of thinking, our minds must be changed (renewed) by God’s Word - if we think like Him, we give like Him. From a changed mind, we will also learn that God’s will is best, not only for our lives, but for everyone else's.
…OUR PLACE…
”…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3
A recurring topic in Scripture is humility. Many times God says He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. From His perspective (creator of everything) this makes perfect sense. To compare a great person to the dimensions and intelligent design of this planet, would be silly. And then to compare earth to most stars in outer space is even more ridiculous. We really have nothing to be proud of. So don’t be drunk on yourself, be sober.
…AND OUR PURPOSE.
”Each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Romans 12:4-6
Humble people work well with others, but the proud prefer to work alone. God wants us working with others. Because of this, He has given us various gifts that make the ‘body’ (community) function properly. Discover what God has entrusted to you and then faithfully act on it. This is when we will find our purpose (meaning) on earth.
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