shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
- 2,696
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1 NRSV)
Sunday, unfortunately, is not the beginning of the week for most of us but rather the end of the week. It is not the first day of the week, but rather the last day of the weekend. It is not the day we give our best to God, but rather our leftovers. What this means, is this: That Sunday is no longer the day when we consecrate ourselves to God for a new week that lies ahead, but rather the day when we squeeze every possible ounce of pleasure out of a fading weekend.
Our great-grandfathers called it the Holy Sabbath;
Our grandfathers, the Sabbath;
Our fathers, Sunday;
Today, we call it the weekend.
We begin the week--very weak. I like the way Paul put it in his letter to the Romans. He said at one point, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, what is Paul saying in these words? Just this, I think: That God has created each one of us--body, mind, and spirit--for God's service in the world. When we understand ourselves in this way and consecrate ourselves to that end, we find our greatest fulfillment and our deepest joy.
Loving God, move me to worship you, instead of just attending another event in my busy week. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse
Sunday, unfortunately, is not the beginning of the week for most of us but rather the end of the week. It is not the first day of the week, but rather the last day of the weekend. It is not the day we give our best to God, but rather our leftovers. What this means, is this: That Sunday is no longer the day when we consecrate ourselves to God for a new week that lies ahead, but rather the day when we squeeze every possible ounce of pleasure out of a fading weekend.
Our great-grandfathers called it the Holy Sabbath;
Our grandfathers, the Sabbath;
Our fathers, Sunday;
Today, we call it the weekend.
We begin the week--very weak. I like the way Paul put it in his letter to the Romans. He said at one point, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, what is Paul saying in these words? Just this, I think: That God has created each one of us--body, mind, and spirit--for God's service in the world. When we understand ourselves in this way and consecrate ourselves to that end, we find our greatest fulfillment and our deepest joy.
Loving God, move me to worship you, instead of just attending another event in my busy week. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse
