 |
| From the altar at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota |
ROMANS 12:1-8
PRESENT YOURSELF
AS A LIVING SACRIFICE.
In the name + of Jesus.
St. Paul uses a strange expression in our epistle lesson. He writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice...” (Romans 12:1) Present yourself as a living sacrifice. That's not how sacrifices work. In Old Testament worship, a man would bring an animal to the temple for a sin offering. He would lay his hands on its head to mark it as the one who would die in his place. Then he would slit the jugular, and the animal's blood would be spattered on the side of the altar. The body would be arranged on the altar where it would be consumed by fire. Death was transferred to the victim; the sinner was pardoned and set free. But the animal could only be sacrificed once.
But now St. Paul urges you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice...” (Romans 12:1) Every day, you get to devote your whole self—all you are and all you have—to honor God and to love your fellow man. Every day, you pour yourself out in service for the good of others. This is how you demonstrate your love and devotion to the Lord: You love your neighbor.
Present yourself as a living sacrifice. To do this, you will need to heed St. Paul's words: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.... (Romans 12:2) The world always tries to influence our minds and attitudes. You know it by the attitude you have when it comes to serving others. There are some people whom we do not want to serve because we consider it a big waste of time. How much time and energy do you want to give to someone who will not pay you back or return the favor? What if your efforts are not recognized, or rewarded, or praised? If you give your time, your energy, and your money to help someone and they say nothing in return, you want to glare at them and shout a sarcastic, “You're welcome!” Then there are days when you are worn out, thinking, “No one cares. Why should I?” We are influenced by worldly attitudes which tell us to devote our time, money, and energy to ourselves: “My comfort matters; your pain and problems are yours.” God's wrath stands against the world for such selflish and loveless ways.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.... (Romans 12:2) The Lord Jesus Christ has acted to transform your hearts and renew your spirits. He has acted to rescue you from making an idol of yourself and from the curse you deserve for it. Jesus rescued you from every curse of sin by taking your sin from you. Jesus made himself a sin offering for you. He is the innocent victim who came to take your place under God's wrath. He was set apart. This one dies for you. His blood was shed, and his body was consumed by God's wrath at the cross. Death was transferred to the victim. You are pardoned and set free.
Jesus came to serve sinners and to save them. Although Jesus is worthy of eternal praise for his sufferings and death, that is not why he came. He did not come for the sake of accolades. He did not come to suffer and die just so people like us would gather on Sundays to sing his praises. On Sundays, it is Jesus who serves you, applying the forgiveness he won to you. Jesus came for sinners, and he came because he loves us. He came because we needed forgiveness of sins and ransom from hell. And since all need it, Jesus came for all. Jesus went to the cross for the Pharisees who plotted and orchestrated his crucifixion. He went to die for the priests who scoffed at Jesus' claims that he is the Messiah. He paid the price for King Herod and Pontius Pilate who didn't seem to care what happened to him. Jesus suffered and died for sinners, whether they cared or not.
Jesus reveals the mind of God who works to sek the good of all mankind. God sent his Son knowing that many will not care about it. Many will not listen to the Gospel or benefit from it. But God's love is not based on who will love him back. God is love, and that is what causes him to act at all times. If any perish, it is not because God failed to love them or refused to serve or save them.
Present yourself as a living sacrifice, having your mind transformed to be like the mind of Christ. That means you love your fellow man and serve him, whether he praises you for it or not. You give your money, time, and energy for the good of others whom you have been given to serve. Parents care for their children even though the recognition of that service is lacking and the gratitude for that service is rare. Parents don't go on strike just because their service is unnoticed or unappreciated. They might wish they could, but they don't. Parents serve their children because they love their children. To love them means that you serve them for their good at all times.
In view of God's mercy and transformed to the mind of Christ, present yourself as a living sacrifice. Every day, God presents you with ways to fear, love, and trust in him above all things. Every day, God gives you ways to love your neighbor as yourself. You don't have to go out and invent works with which you honor God and love your neighbor. God presents those opportunities to you every day in your various vocations. You honor God and serve your neighbor as children, parents, single or spouse, as an employee, as a citizen, as a friend, or as you meet someone by chance. These are the neighbors whom God has given you to love and serve. You do not love them to get something out of them. If that is the only reason you do anything, you will find everyone to be annoying. Love always seeks the good of others.
Present yourself as a living sacrifice. If it is true that you do this in the world, it is all the more true that you do this for the Church. As fellow members of the body of Christ, and of this congregation in particular, we devote ourselves to working with one another and for one another. St. Paul urges, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:3-5) Just as the parts of the body do not compete with each other for attention or importance, so it is with the body of Christ. All parts work together for each other's good. We proclaim the gospel to each other for consolation and encouragement. We pray for one another. We serve for the good of each other according to our abilities and according to each other's needs.
Present yourself as a living sacrifice. God has given each of us gifts to use, and we are all blessed differently. No one should flaunt their abilities or take pride in them. The gifts you have are just that—gifts. God blessed you with them. He could have blessed you differently. But God chose to give you the abilities he wanted you to have so that you might serve for the good of all. You do not need to fret about what you wish you could do. Instead, do what God has given you to do. And as you serve, you can be confident in this: That God is pleased with your service to him. You have been cleansed in the blood of Christ and are, therefore, holy in God's sight. Therefore, your works are pleasing to him. Even if they are not perfect, God blesses them and benefits others through them.
Your comfort in your service is not going to be that people recognize you for what you do or that you get thanked for doing it. Those things are nice. And we should all encourage each other with thanks. But your comfort is always how the Lord Jesus Christ serves you with his love and forgiveness. This is what saves you. This is what keeps you as Christ's people now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Due to recurring spam, all comments will now be moderated. Please be patient.