TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

"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." Romans 12:1

​​Memorize this verse: (Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.)
1. I B Y T B B T M O G T Y P Y B A L S H A U G W I Y R S

Notes on this verse:

Beseech is a Greek word which comes from a root meaning to “call alongside to help”.

“Mercies of God”: The gracious, extravagant, divine graces Paul expounded in the first eleven chapters, including God’s love, grace, righteousness and the gift of faith.

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice”: Under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of dead animals. But because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, those are no longer of any effect. For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer themselves completely to the Lord. Under God’s control, the believer’s yet unredeemed body can and must be yielded to Him as an instrument of righteousness.

“Reasonable service”: Reasonable is from the Greek for “logic.” In light of all the spiritual riches, believers enjoy solely as the fruit of God’s mercies. It logically flows that they owe God their highest form of service. Understood here is the idea of priestly, spiritual service, which was such an integral part of Old Testament worship.

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

We can see from this that God expects our loyalty. We have been bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The least we can do is live for Him since He ransomed us from death.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

​January 19

Old Testament
Genesis 41  —  8.0 minutes
Psalms 18:26-50  —  5.0 minutes

New Testament
Matthew 8:1-13  —  3.0 minutes
Acts 11:1-18  —  4.0 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 20.0 minutes