Your Reasonable Service

Romans 12:1-21 *

Friday evening, Betty’s mother invited us to the Hohenwald Senior Citizen’s Annual Fish Fry.  As we were preparing to leave, I happened to overhear Herman and another elderly gentleman talking about old times.  That snippet of conversation made me think about how dramatically things have changed in the past 100 years.

Most of us have, at one time or another, longed for the good old days.  What we miss are family and friends, attitudes and social conditions, feelings and emotions awakened by relationships past.  Few if any would willingly give up our modern conveniences.  Flip a switch and you have light.  Adjust a thermostat and the house is cooler or warmer depending upon your mood.  Jump into the car and make a trip of 100 miles in a couple hours time.  Want to visit Hawaii or Europe?  All you have to do is get on an airplane and within hours you can be just about any where in the world.

Without our conveniences we would still be washing clothes by hand, riding horses, reading by candlelight, and heating with wood or coal.  Modern technology is great but it can get a bit ridiculous sometimes.  I still recall getting a contraption that was useful for taking the little fuzz balls off sweaters!  I like air conditioning, central heat, microwave ovens, washers and dryers.  All these things make life a bit easier and considerably more comfortable.

In our time, it is possible to change just about anything you don’t like - even when it comes to personal appearance.  We have diet pills and plastic surgery.  We can change hair color and even implant hair for the bald.  I am not opposed to the use of technology to make life better, but I am distressed when increased knowledge leads to a decrease in personal responsibility. 

Paul warned that individual freedom could be taken too far.  The ability to do something should never become approval to do anything.  Liberty must never become license.  The Church is the preserving influence and moral conscience of humanity!  The greatest enemy confronting the Church is the temptation toward moral compromise and conformity to a worldly standard!

I.                   “Your Reasonable Service” What Will It Cost?

A.     Reputation

1.      Called a Fundamentalist

2.      Closure of certain circles of association

B.     In time and energy

1.      Service is our first mission in life

2.      Witnessing and ministry consume personal resources

C.     In terms of other resources

1.      Monies and time

2.      Skin, blood, and bone – putting it all on the line for ministry

II.                Being Transformed Rather Than Conformed

A.     Conformity is injurious to individuals

1.      Depriving of God’s blessing and joy

2.      Causing sin and separation

B.     Conformity injures the Church

1.      Eliminating opportunities and gifts/talents

2.      Prevents new saints being born

C.     Conformity injures the world

1.      By promoting a worldly example rather than one that is godly

2.      Irreligion cheapens life rather than promote humanity

III.             Transformed People Prove the Will of God

A.     That good and perfect will of God

B.     What price on right and wrong?

Being transformed means becoming the man or woman God intended you to be!