MEDITATION:
Written by Philip Yancey, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Discovering God.”
Too often theology is viewed as stuff for hermits to think about. When there’s nothing else to do, then is the time to ask abstract questions about God. Such a notion would have exasperated the apostle Paul. To him, theology was worthless unless it made a difference in how people lived. Thus, after laying out the most thorough, concise summary of Christian theology in the Bible, he turns his attention at the end of Romans to a down-to-earth discussion of everyday problems. Paul’s own life offers a good example of how to make theology practical. In fact, he wrote the lofty book of Romans while traveling to raise funds for famine relief. By collecting offerings from gentile Christians for the sake of Jews in Jerusalem, Paul modeled the kind of unity sorely needed by both groups. Romans 12, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2), needs no special commentary or study aids. The problem lies not in understanding the words, but in obeying them. Paul is describing what love in action should look like. Once more he uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate how diverse parts can work together in unity. The Romans, both Jews and Gentiles, associated the word “sacrifices” with the lambs and other animals they brought to the temple for priests to kill on an altar. But Paul makes clear that God wants living human beings, not dead animals. A person committed to God’s will is the king of offering most pleasing to God.
PRAYER:
Written by Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), founder of the Poor Clares, a community dedicated to poverty, simplicity and service.
I come, O Lord, unto Your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine. Amen.
MUSIC MEDITATION:
Living Sacrifice. Chris Christian. Written by Chris Christian and based on Romans 12:1.
Pathways Press.com 
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