Today’s Scripture: Romans 12:1, NLT- “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
When we hear someone say “I am giving up” we instinctively know in our spirits to say you cannot give up, there is always hope! We do not condemn each other for being in hopeless places, do we?
In Romans 8:1-2, Paul assures us that “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (NIV) We can be set free yet first we must give up the understanding and feelings of our flesh.
In Romans 8:5 we are reminded that “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit.” Although we can see hope for others sometimes, we cannot see it for ourselves. Can we accept that giving up our flesh is the first step in worshipping God?
Paul asks a pointed question in Romans 8:24 “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Our hope is not in what we can see and know on our own. We must reach a point in our lives where all hope, as we understand it to be, is gone. It is at this point we come to know the hope of God and His Son Jesus Christ who is interceding for us.
Paul provides us with a history lesson in Romans 9-11 to remind us that “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:16, NIV). Paul posed another question for us to consider in Romans 9:23, “What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy?” (BSB). We are the vessels of God’s mercy, and our hopelessness brings us to His hope and His glory.
We all come to the place where we must realize there is hope beyond us. It is here that we come to know Romans 10:13, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” “And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” Romans 10:20, NIV.
Romans 11:30-31 reminds us “Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.” (NIV)
Our hopelessness and our disobedience help us understand Paul’s proclamation in Romans 11:33, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (NLT)
Impossible to understand but freely given to those who give up. Let us give up our bodies and our understanding and accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ who knows where we are and what we need. If we will only give up and trust Him.
Will you give up today?
Today’s Prayer: Father God, I praise Your name and thank You for Your mercy and all You have done for us. I thank You even for the disobedience and blindness that brought me to You. I offer my body, my understanding, my hope to You. I trust in Your wisdom and love for me. Thank You for Your grace in Jesus Christ that is woven throughout Your scriptures and throughout our hearts and souls. Help us to live in Your hope and offer Your hope to all Your children. Amen.
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