RTW August 8
Uncommon
This is what the Lord says: “Do not act like the other nations…”
Jeremiah 10:2a
My Takeaways
Something Old
Romans 12:1-3 – NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 12:1-3 – The Message
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
Something New
For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, “Obey Me!” Jeremiah 11:7
Don’t be fooled… God doesn’t forget His own words.
Something to Do
Be uncommon.
I love The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:1-3. This sentence especially resonates with me, “…God helping you: take your everyday ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering.”
I am trying to be more intentional about doing exactly this, making all my actions, behaviors, decisions, and thoughts offerings to God. My everyday, ordinary life can be an offering to God! Wow!
Now I ften I fail miserably, but more and more I am in communication with the holy in me and trying to listen to what God wants me to do. I am clearly a work in progress, but making an effort to stay focused on God.
RTW and my daily study and prayer definitely help me stay focused. Thank you Wendy and the RTW family for your insights and prayers. I love learning with you.
Well said!
My Takeaways: Stay Committed
Something Old: Jeremiah continued to condemn God’s people for their sins, particularly idolatry. Idolatry always makes false claims to provide what it cannot give. Jesus provides truth. He came to give me life. He will follow through when I put my trust in Him.
Something New: I can’t imagine what it must of been like to be a prophet. The people hated Jeremiah for showing them they were wrong and were plotting to kill him (11:19-23). Fortunately Jeremiah was on God’s side and called to Him instead of running away to hide. Life had to be so very difficult for Jeremiah, but he hung in there and stayed committed to God. When it’s all said and done and my life on earth is over, and I am standing at the gates of heaven, the only thing that will get me through those gates will be my commitment to God. I want to be a Jeremiah and call on God when it seems as if my world around me is being turned upside down, because it’s only when I am committed and realize all that He has done for me that I can be saved.
Something To Do: Don’t misplace my priorities. Keep my eyes on the Lord, trust in His wisdom and always call on Him.