RENEW YOUR MIND
Going Deep into Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
"That You Present Your Bodies"
To present something is more than just showing something. To present implies to prepare the item in advance before introducing it to the recipient. Additionally, the item being presented, might expect to be shown as an exhibit, possibly scrutinized or inspected.
Is Paul suggesting that we present our bodies in this fashion, as an exhibit to be scrutinized? More than suggesting, he beseeched us! He's pleading with us to do so!
This may sound a little intrusive at first, but pulling from last quarter's theme, "Called to be Possessed," as Christ Carriers, we are no longer living, but instead, having died to this world, we live a POSSESSED life in Christ and are POSSESSED by the Spirit of Christ.
So as we present our bodies, we are not presenting ourselves, but rather, we are presenting Christ!
Let's get some definitions straight. Contrary to popular opinion, Christ is not Jesus' last name, but rather, His title. Christ means The Anointed One, and is in reference to Jesus (Yeshua) as the One anointed by God for the salvation of this world.
However 2 Corin. 1:21-22, reveals that we too are anointed, as it reads, "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
The greatest gift of The Anointed One, having sacrificed Himself on the cross, is that in His death, the anointing seed that was once in one Man, could now be dispersed and made available to all mankind who believe! That anointed seed is the Spirit of Christ and as we carry His Spirit, we become the light of the world.
Matthew 5:14-15 reminds us of the blessing that a light can be to a city or a house when it is on a hill or a lampstand on full display.
If the idea of presenting your body still sounds unnerving to you, then perhaps you have forgotten who you are, and Whose you are.
As children of God, we carry the precious anointing Spirit of Christ, and through Him, we can stand confidently, being boldly presented to the world as evidence of the existence and glory of God!
Present your bodies. Present Christ.