Acceptable Service

 

By Very Rev Nathaniel Garang Aduot

 

We need to understand that it is not enough to acknowledge the benefits in serving God without knowing its acceptability unto God.

In Romans 12:1, Apostle Paul said…

_’ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God*, which is your reasonable service.

It means some services are not acceptable and that makes it not reasonable.

*How to make our service acceptable and reasonable

(Let’s dig deep into this Romans 12:1. Maybe precise but having lots of deeper Christian life).

 

The thinking of our age says that our body must tell the will what to do; but the Bible says that our will must bring the body as a living sacrifice to God. The body is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Keeping it at God’s altar as a living sacrifice keeps the body where it should be.

An ancient Greek never thought of presenting his body to God. They thought the body was so unspiritual that God didn’t care about it. Paul shows here that God is concerned about our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us that God bought our bodies with a price.

*A living sacrifice*: First-century people, both Jews and pagans, knew first-hand what sacrifice was all about. To beg that they make themselves a living sacrifice was a striking image.

• The sacrifice is living because it is brought alive to the altar.

• The sacrifice is living because it stays alive at the altar; it is ongoing.

*Holy, acceptable to God: * When we offer our body, God intends it to be a holy and acceptable sacrifice. The standard for sacrifices made to God under the New Covenant are not any less than the standard under the Old Covenant.

In the Old Testament, every sacrifice had to be holy and acceptable to God

• He shall bring a male without blemish (Leviticus 1:10).

• But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 15:21).

The idea of a sweet aroma to the LORD is almost always linked to the idea of an offering made by fire. There is a “burning” in this matter of a living sacrifice. It also shows that Paul has in mind the burnt offering, in which the entire sacrifice was given to the Lord. In some sacrifices, the one offering the sacrifice and the priest shared in the some of the meal, but never in the burnt offering.

. The holiness we bring to the altar is a decision for holiness and yielding to the work of holiness in our life. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, God makes our life holy by burning away impurities.

. Reasonable service: The ancient Greek word for reasonable (logikos) can also be translated “of the word” (as it is in 1 Peter 2:2). Reasonable service is a life of worship according to God’s Word.

The sacrifice of an animal was reasonable service, but only for the one bringing the sacrifice – not for the sacrifice itself. Under the New Covenant, we have far greater mercies, so it is reasonable to offer a far greater sacrifice.

To do this, we must acknowledge the truth that, the journey begins by giving our lives to Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. And remaining in Him as a living sacrifice. If you once did but have dwindled, you need to retrace your step. Because it is possible for one to be serving the Lord and not been acceptable. You can be serving the Lord and not in the Lord. You can be serving the Lord and not known by the Lord. You can be serving the Lord for 20, 40, 70 years and yet not born again.

With the eye-opening exposition about our service being a living sacrifice, its holiness, and acceptability which is reasonable before the Lord, we can now realize one’s service can be a waste no matter the years in it. And we can retrace ourselves back to the cross. The way back is still salvation.

 

Remember that Jesus is coming soon. You will soon give an account of your life in service. (Revelation 22:12, Matthew 7:21-22).

Let’s ponder on this as we serve the Lord. It shall be well with you in Jesus’ name.

 

Happy new month!

The writer on biblical idea CEO of Faith based Development initiative organization