We’re probably familiar with these words of Paul, mostly from the call as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ to be transformational and non-conformists.  This is an especially difficult task when so much of our lives has been dedicated to conforming in almost every area of our lives.  We’re expected to conform morally, ethically, socially, culturally, racially, and politically.  Even religious conformity is expected — even when you designate your non-conformity by labeling yourselves as  “Non-denominational” — its own type of conformity.  But the crux of Paul’s text has as less to do with non-conformity than it does with our transformation and why we should be non-conformist.  And we often glide by his statement “ … in view of God’s mercy, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.”ˆ

         It’s in “in view of God’s mercy” — this status as those who have received mercy — that we come before God and the world making ourselves sacrifices of praise.  It’s our actions taken to testify to the world about the mercies we’ve received.  It’s our actions taken to tell each other about what God has done for us that saved us from the destitute situations in which we’ve sometimes found ourselves.  It’s our actions taken to live in faithful communion with God, Christ, and each other acknowledging as the Psalmist sang

         1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side

                  — let Israel now say —

         2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,

                  when our enemies attacked us,

         3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,

                  when their anger was kindled against us;

It is because God was on our side that God has shown us all such great mercy that we sing and share the praises of our God.  It is because of God’s great love for us — that our death would have been precious in his sight — that we covenant with God and Christ to make ourselves living sacrifices of praise to our God who has saved us, adopted us, and called us to be the Ambassadors of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.  A sacrifice of praise is not a sacrifice in the actual sense of the word, but a gift of honor and praise to our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life eternal.  God be praised forever.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving and merciful God, continue to work within me, transforming me to be a living sacrifice of praise to You for Your mercy shown to me when you looked beyond my faults and saw my need.

         I’m not sure that any of us truly think of ourselves as being favored by God.  We suffer as other people suffer.  We experience sickness, pain, death, tragedy, and despair like other people.  And yet, we are placed by God in the honored position — chosen —to praise God for what God has done, even in the midst of our — sometimes — despairing situations.  American poet and writer, Joyce Kilmer, once offered this short verse of gratitude.

         The roar of the world in my ears,

         Thank God for the roar of the world!

         Thank God for the mighty tide of fears

         Against me always hurled!

         Thank God for the bitter and ceaseless strife,

         Thank God for the stress and pain of life,

         And oh, Thank God for God!

Perhaps we might see ourselves as favored if we looked beyond the present condition of our physical lives to the Spiritual joy we have knowing that — in the end — God will vindicate us and that we realize the truth and presence of God in our lives when we experience God’s faithfulness in hard times.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving God, enable me to always look beyond my present circumstances to remember how You favored me all the times You delivered me. Grant that I may praise You at all times.

         Our mouths drool and our lips drip with promises of faithfulness and devotion to God when our backs are against the wall.  When we find we’re at the end of our rope and there’s no one else to turn to but God, we willing to say and do whatever we can hoping to lure God into honoring our covenant of praise if God would just step in and rescue us from our distress.  How often have we heard or said the words, “Lord, if you get me out of this situation, I’ll never let myself … “ — (you can finish with your own personal dilemma).  The desperation of our situation always leads us to make promises that seem binding at the time but later lead us to acquire amnesia when we’re out of danger.  It’s difficult to return anything to God for God’s mercies to us if our words are nothing more than empty promises.  And yet, keeping our promises to God is an act of faithfulness and praise.  And yes, there may be some pressure at the moment we remember those promises we made to God, but telling others about the goodness of God shouldn’t be filled with pressure but rejoicing.

         A doctor tells a story about a time he was called to the hospital late at night.  While walking through a semi dark hallway, a man he’d never seen before ran up to him out of one of the patient rooms with great joy on his face saying, “She’s going to make it!  She’s better!  She’s going to make it.”  With good news like that, this unknown man couldn’t wait to share it.

         When we’ve been rescued by God from dark and desperate situations in our lives, shouldn’t we also want to tell others what God has done.  It’s an authentic and appropriate response and sacrifice of praise when we can’t offer to God anything else but.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving Christ, enable and empower me to joyfully keep the vows I make to You in my times of distress. Let my testimony about Your mercy act as a sacrifice of praise, faithfulness, loyalty and devotion to You.