Romans–Passionate Christian Theology

As a teacher of minds-on, hands-on learning these days we always begin with a little background information then give explicit instructions on what they are about to do. Most of the time the students have never done it before. They look at us with eyes that say, “really, we get to do this?” We assure them they can…with our help. Every lesson is a challenge. Every challenge must be met to learn and grow as a STEM student.

I think of this as I read my favorite chapter, although VERY challenging if you are focused on living it, not just talking about it. Romans 12 lays it all on the line. We are given explicit instructions about the challenges of living life to the full…with God helping us.

For the rest of this month, let’s just take one verse at a time. Practice that, get it right and then move to the next verse. This actually has taken me a lifetime, but you get the point. This is one of the chapters worth memorizing, meditating on, internalizing it so that is not just a part of us, but IS us. We are transformed, God helping us, by these words.

VERSE ONE, Romans 12, the Message

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Just as the Israelites were given their manna daily, we must lay down our lives each morning before God. Offering ourselves to Him each day puts our focus on the One who gives life. Beginning each blessed day He gives us with grateful praise, asking expectantly, “what’s next, Papa?” has a way of centering our souls. He is our help in this journey. He is our provider, our healer, our protection. A daily cleansing of our hearts and minds is as important as a physical daily shower before starting our “everyday, ordinary lives. There is no one like our God! Let it all begin and end with Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, Here I am, again, laying it all down. I lay down my life as it is before You as an offering. It isn’t much, but I know You will use it to glorify Your Name in some way. I offer this song of praise to You, my Savior and my Lord:

All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before You, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I’m making them Yours

Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through, use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You as a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to You

Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through, use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You as a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life

What can we give that You have not given?
And what do we have that is not already Yours?
All we possess are these lives we’re living
That’s what we give to You, Lord

Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through, use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You as a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life

In Jesus Name and for His glory, Amen. I believe!