Proper 28 (2023)

The central thought of the text is that the mercy of God moves us to serve with our body, mind, and gifts.

The goal is that we will serve God with our whole being.

The problem is that fleshly rather than spiritual considerations often motivate and direct our service.

The means to the goal is the mercy of God in Christ, which impels and empowers our service.

As we wait for Christ to return, we are not to be sedentary. The reason Christ has not yet returned is that there is still work to be done. And Christ carries out his good work through us, his Church.

So, until Christ comes again and says, “Stop!”, true believers will be busy with faithful service. Christ has given every believer gifts and talents. And when Christ entrusts us with those gifts and talents, he calls us to use them all for his glory. In this time between Christ’s first and second coming, we use everything the master has given us to live according to his will and to carry out his mission.

In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul describes the mercies of God as they are demonstrated in the redemptive work of Christ. He reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1), and that nothing in heaven, on earth, or beneath it can separate us from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Such mercy calls for a response. However, Paul does not say, “I command you.” Rather, he says, “I beseech you ... by the mercies of God”, or “In view of God’s mercies...” (Romans 12:1). To do what? To perform our “reasonable service.”

OUR REASONABLE SERVICE

We present our bodies.

It is called “a living sacrifice.”

It is not like slaughtered animals or obligatory performances.

We present them as instruments for rational, moral behavior. Because, we are a new creation in Christ by virtue of our baptism.

Romans 6:13 (EHV) “Do not offer the members of your body to sin as tools of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and offer the members of your body to God as tools of righteousness.”

Romans 6:16 (EHV) “Do you not know that when you offer yourselves to obey someone as slaves, you are slaves of the one you are obeying—whether slaves of sin, resulting in death, or slaves of obedience, resulting in righteousness?”

Romans 6:19 (NKJV) “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

And because of all this, this living sacrifice will result in a continual battle against the flesh.

It is acceptable to God.

Because God’s mercy motivates our behavior.

Motivates it because God has rescued us from our former pitiful state of being lost in our trespasses and sins.

It further motivates us whenever we think of the mercy we have received and still receive; the result is we gladly heed the admonitions addressed to us in the name of these mercies.

God’s mercy covers our shortcomings.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our union with this grace through Holy Baptism.

God’s mercy hallows our efforts.

When we truly understand the blessings of our salvation, we will want to use the talents given by God for His glory.

And our body is the organ for our actions. When we present that to God, it means that all our actions are direction solely by Him.

Such presenting of our bodies is a reasonable service. St. Paul illustrates this fact 1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

But this service involves the mind as well as the body.

We are renewed in our minds.

The Holy Spirit enables us to discern God’s will. Romans 12:2 “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.”

We become more sensitive to what is good.

We become more watchful that the world does not squeeze us into its mold (J. B. Phillips).

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

When a situation arises the sinful nature will always try to get us to respond the way the world does, by embracing worldly principles, instead of Kingdom principles. The world, indeed, wants to squeeze us into its mould, but worldly principles must never override or be mixed with Kingdom principles.

For example, if you are slandered the world might say “take them to court,” whereas Kingdom principles says don’t take them to court: “Come to terms quickly with your accuser” (Matt 5:25); and, “Give to everyone who begs from you and from the one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back (Luke 6:30). Jesus said that a student is not above His teacher. When Jesus was slandered, heard the trumped up charges against Him, then handed over to be crucified, the Bible tells us, “He did not open his mouth.”

The world says retaliate. God says, vengeance is mine (Romans 12:19).

Trust me, this is not easy because the sinful flesh wants what the world wants. But the present tense of the word to not be conformed suggests the ongoing renewal by the Holy Spirit. God is the one who transforms our minds and attitudes. Or, as J.B. Phillips put it: “Let God re-mould you minds from within...” How does this happen?

Immerse ourselves in His Word

Faithful attendance of the Divine Service, where we draw encouragement from one another.

Frequent use of the Sacrament,

These are the tools that God uses to re-mould our minds from within.

Then Holy Spirit enables us to assess ourselves and situations honestly and according to truth.

Never denigrating ourselves, or thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12:3).

Truth is, we are nothing without Christ Jesus and His gifts.

And because this is so, humility is how we are to comport ourselves in life — especially when a situation arises. The sinful flesh reacts. Humility says, “Be still and know that I am God.” And I fully understand how difficult that can be at times.

But you know what? It is the awareness that all we have is from God that makes us humble (Romans 12:3,6). And, He not only has given us all things, He sustain us in all aspects of our lives as well.

So to be renewed in our minds is a reasonable service. Our bodies and minds are activated by the mercy of God. Therefore,

We use our gifts.

We use whatever gifts we have as well as we can (Romans 12:7-8

Romans 12:7–8 NIV84

7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Each of us has different gifts from God (Romans 12:6).

We are most ourselves in Christ when we use our gifts as fully as possible.

And God has gifted each and every one of us for the good of others. We take care of each other — our brothers and sisters in Christ. We encourage one another. This is done because we belong to each other.

When we see someone in need, we help.

If we see that someone is in danger, we warn and snatch them from the danger if necessary.

If my hand is getting too close to a red-hot burner on the stove, my brain sends a warning signal to pull my hand away. Likewise, we serve one another because we belong to each other.

Romans 12:5 NIV84

5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

What a challenge to present our bodies as living sacrifices, to be renewed in mind, holiness, and humility and then with body and mind to use our gifts more fully! This is but our reasonable service in view of the magnificent mercies of God.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.