The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 12:1-3, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Generally speaking, we think of “worship” as going to church, singing, listening to the pastor’s sermon from the Bible, and fellowshipping with other believers. Yet, Paul speaks of “worship” as much more. Worship is living our lives every day in such a manner as is acceptable to the LORD. In the Old Testament, the Jews went to the Temple to worship. But when we committed our lives to the LORD, we became the Temple and the Holy Spirit now resides within us.

Separation from the world is our sacrifice. Our thoughts, words, attitudes –everything changes when we come to faith in Christ! We can no longer allow our eyes, our thoughts, our speech to comport with the thinking and activity of the world. The world has yet to know Christ. Trite expressions of worldly origin can no longer be ours. Further down in this 12th chapter of Romans, Paul lists various gifts that Christians are allotted –gifts that are to be used by the Church for the glory of the LORD. These gifts cannot be mingled with the unrighteous acts of the world. God cannot be glorified through sinful acts of worldliness. Our minds are to have been renewed, and our thoughts focused always on the LORD.

Yet, even when our lives are renewed by His grace, there is the tendency within us to think of ourselves “more highly than we ought to think.” My pastor used to quote this verse and then add: “but we ought to think that highly.” His point was that the person who focuses on “down-playing” himself and his abilities is actually boasting of his humility. And that is blatantly pride. The LORD gives to each of us “a measure of faith.” When we utilize His gift, we honor and glorify Him. Ultimately, that is His desire for each of us. The Christian life is not easy. But, just as a thoughtful person helps a weaker person to walk, the Holy Spirit helps us as we lean upon Him for His strength.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom