Since finishing school, I have had quite a crazy summer. I was really excited to get my blog up and running. However, I was only able to put up one post before a family emergency stopped me in my tracks. I took a couple weeks off from working on it, and I'm just now getting back to it. Aside from that, I spent my evenings last week teaching children at Vacation Bible School.
None of this sounds particularly exciting. I have to admit that my daily life is most often quite boring. I spend much of my time crafting, checking Instagram, and watching YouTube videos. In my mind, it's better than doing nothing. However, it's not exactly the most productive way to spend my time. I would love to tell you that I spend hours every day reading my Bible, praying, planning things for my youth group, or talking with someone about God. In all reality, that would be a lie and I've been feeling a little bad about that. Apparently not bad enough to do anything about it though.
During a meeting today, I was asked what Romans 12:1 meant to me.
"Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship."
I responded that I thought it referred to living your daily life in a way that would please God. As we continued talking, the word "sacrifice" was pointed out to me. That is when I realized that my daily life does not look like a sacrifice. I time out of my day to spend with God, but rarely do I have to sacrifice anything to do so.
As I left my meeting, I quickly forgot about this verse. I went straight back to watching YouTube videos until I remembered that I had been reading through Romans for my devotions. I wondered if I had skipped over the verse that had made such an impact on my mind earlier, so I reached for my Bible and turned to the last page I had marked. To my surprise, I had left off at the end of chapter eleven. The very next verse for me to read during my devotional time was none other than Romans 12:1. As I sit here and give it more thought, I am reminded of all the ways that society has me focusing on myself. Just a few hours ago, I watched a summer bucket list video. Naturally, I started thinking about what I would like to do with my summer. That's all fine and dandy, but where is the sacrifice? Instead of making a list of things that I want to do for myself, I should be making a list of things I would like to do for God.
It's time for me to learn what it means to offer myself as a sacrifice in view of God's mercy. I don't deserve the love and grace that He gives me. I often need reminded of that, but I also doubt that I'm alone in this struggle. So as I remind myself today of all that God has done for me, I declare once again that I am not first in my life. I will strive to be a servant living a life of sacrifice.
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