Have you ever considered the word, "beseech?" I think I have...well, sort of… but not really. I mean, I’ve read it, I’ve read over it and I’ve moved on. However, I think most of us know the scripture in Romans 12 that beings “I beseech you brethren..” But, perhaps haven't thought about the context, or the purpose, the most important part of these first few verses of this chapter. The first of this exhortation begins with the word, beseech. That word means to beg, implore, to ask urgently. This doesn’t mean to just ask, or is saying-“ hey, if you have time,” or just a normal asking of a favor. I hope you will consider the urgency that our Lord, through our beloved brother and inspired writer Paul, BEGS us to present ourselves to Him and the world sacrificially each day. Now, why? We often focus on the first set of these verses, but actually it all comes down to one reason- there is always one reason, sisters and that reason can be found at the end of the exhortation. It is the “why?” It is so you can PROVE to others who and what God is; you can prove to others what kind of God we have. Just the other day, I had a wonderful conversation with a dear sister on the phone who was heartbroken over a conversation she had with a former sister who has left the Lord's church. This sweet sister talked about why this woman, who was raised in the church by a godly family, left. She said the reason was because how badly people treated her family in times of sorrow. Now, I know that this is an excuse, but it is something we hear all the time. We all know that we are to be focused on the Lord’s love for us, but you know, aren’t we supposed to be the Lord’s people? Aren’t we supposed to reflect His love? If we are reflecting His love, it is one that puts others feelings before our own. iI is one that is sacrificial. I mean, what if the Lord only sacrificed His will as much as we sacrifice our will for him? What if He only gave as much as we give others? Where would we be if our priorities were His? I fear that we would be without hope, without eternal rest and without the blessings we are so richly given each day because He loves us much more than Himself. It is only until we are willing to allow ourselves to see the sacrifice on the cross, and our reached state of self, our dirty souls, and how desperately we are in need of the cleansing blood, that we will understand that sacrifice is our “reasonable service.” It is the least we can do, isn't it? I mean, He gave His blood, was tortured for us, was humiliated and gave Himself as a free will offering; climbed onto the cross without a protest. It really is reasonable, right? He begs us to prove God’s perfect love. It is the way others see Him. So, as we walk through our day, I hope we will understand the deeper meaning of this exhortation in Romans 12 and consider that it isn't a off-handed request, or a simple little favor; our Lord is begging us, imploring us, urgently on His knees asking us to make a choice this day and sacrifice our will, as He did His, to prove it was not in vain, to prove His perfect sacrifice for us: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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." Romans 12: 1-2.
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