Chapter 2—Our Reasonable Service
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world,
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” [
Romans
12:1, 2
.]
In the ancient Jewish service it was required that every sacrifice
should be without blemish. In the text we are told to present our bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable
service. We are God’s workmanship. The psalmist, meditating upon
the marvelous work of God in the human frame, exclaimed, “I am
fearfully and wonderfully made.” [
Psalm 139:14
.] There are many
who are educated in the sciences, and are familiar with the theory
of the truth, who do not understand the laws that govern their own
being. God has given us faculties and talents; and it is our duty, as his
sons and daughters, to make the best use of them. If we weaken these
powers of mind or body by wrong habits or indulgence of perverted
appetite, it will be impossible for us to honor God as we should.
We can understand the value of the human soul only as we realize
the greatness of the sacrifice made for its redemption. The word of
God declares that we are not our own, that we are bought with a price.
It is at an immense cost that we have been placed upon vantage ground,
where we can find liberty from the bondage of sin wrought by the fall
in Eden. Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery; but by the
sacrifice of the Son of God, a second probation was granted to man.
In the plan of redemption a way of escape is provided for all who will
avail themselves of it. God knew that it was impossible for man to
overcome in his own strength, and he has provided help for him. How
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thankful we should be that a way is open for us, by which we can have
access to the Father; that the gates are left ajar, so that beams of light
from the glory within may shine upon those who will receive them!
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