God’s Word Daily

Body Faith

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Its tempting to carve up our lives into little compartments

such that we separate what we do with our bodies

from our faith.  God wants us to see the connection:

“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.” Romans 12:1

In response to the Gospel of Jesus offer your body to God.

Offer your body as a living sacrifice.

Obvious:

Your body is the only vehicle you have for serving Him.

Yet we too often disconnect what we are doing in our body from our faith.

Two implications:

  1. Sin enslaves the body to act according to desires that are contrary to the way of God; but the Gospel frees us to progressively choose and act in keeping with the royal law of love.  Jesus has made us and is making us holy and pleasing to God.
  2. Worship is not confined to a specific hour or place; worship is what we do when we are continually offering what we are doing to God — at work, in relationships, at home.

For a good start of the day develop a spiritual exercise out of Romans 12:1:

Reflect on the extraordinary love of God shown us in the cross of Jesus.

Then in view of God’s mercy offer each part of your body to God:  My head — its yours; may my thoughts honour you.  My eyes — they are yours, may I see the world as you see.  My ears — they are yours, may I have your grace to listen to people and hear what you are doing in their lives.  My mouth…  My hands…”

Avoid the God App

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It’s tempting to treat God like an app.

Just download God and go to the app when you need Him.

One app among many.  Problems?  Just ask God what to do so you can be blessed.

The Gospel is different.

“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.” Romans 12:1

When we treat God like an app we move directly to morality and abandon grace.

“What does God want me to do?”

Do “x” so God will give you “y.”

Avoid the God App, it will corrupt genuine Gospel faith.

The Gospel gives us a relationship, not an app of convenience.

“…in view of God’s mercy…”

Connecting faith to real life starts with a view of the cross.

Jesus took our place that we might enjoy His place with the Father.

Sin would take its toll from us — killing us slowly with guilt, shame, and fear.

But mercifully He took our guilt that we might have a share in His innocence,

our shame that we might have a share in His honour,

our fear that we might have a share in His peace.

Now through Jesus we are connected to One from whom and through whom

and for whom all things are!  (Romans 11:36)

What an awesome God we have!

The inconvenient but joyful way to live as one loved by Jesus is

is to make His mercy our starting place.

Passion Week ~ Good Friday ~ barabbas

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Reflections on Matthew 27:15-23

Barabbas, what’s in a name?  Son of God.

He got freedom.

Jesus got a cross.

A deal struck in a courtyard.

But this moment had been set ages before

in the court of heaven.

“What shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

“Let him be crucified!”

In that moment the crowd did not see

the true Son of God suffering in love.

Suffering to set the children of God free.

(Josh Garrells singing “Good Friday.”)

Passion Week ~ Thursday ~ Unload your heavy heart.

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In the week of Jesus’ passion, His passion ran strong.

But he warns that a heavy heart wears down passion.

What makes a heavy heart?

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down

with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life,

and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap.

For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have

strength to escape all these things that are going to take

place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  Luke 21:34-36

Dissipation:  like a drop of colour in water, purpose dissipates; it must be renewed.

Drunkenness:  fake passion fueled by consumption steals life.

Cares of this life:  can stand in for real purpose; they lose meaning when

disconnected from the Lord of life.  The normal tasks of life and relationships

where never meant to bear the weight of our souls.

Jesus draws us into the relationship with Him:  attentive prayer.

In prayer purpose is renewed.

In prayer consumption is held in check.

In prayer the cares of this life meet the promise of the Lord of life.

In prayer we discover His passion ~

the capacity to suffer, sacrifice, and love meaningfully.

In prayer we unload the heavy heart.

Passion Week ~ Wednesday ~ Blind no more.

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Bartimaeus intrigues me. (Mark 10:46-52)

Blind.

He was intensely aware of his situation.

And he wanted a change.

He called out to Jesus until the crowd was annoyed.

“Jesus Son of David have mercy on me.”

They told him to shut up.

Jesus told him to “come here.”

Spiritual blindness is a silent condition.

When we suffer from it we do not call out to Jesus.

His grace, that’s what we need.

Grace gives us awareness.

Grace gives us courage to call out to Jesus.

Grace lifts us up, “Your faith has made you well.”

Grace gives us unction to follow the Lamb of God.

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi

miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi,

miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccta mundi.

Lamb of God, who takes away the

sin of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the

sin of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the

sin of the world.