IGNITE: DAY 28

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 28


Romans 12:1-2

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies
a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable
to God, which is your spiritual service
of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what the
will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect. (NASB)




MEDITATION BY Steve Hubler


These words mark the turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans. In the preceding chapters, Paul describes the unbounded mercy they had already received: Jesus suffered the death they deserved, granting them redemption and everlasting life. This act of immeasurable grace triggered the urgent appeal that follows. Paul pleads with them to present themselves to God without reservation and without condition, and to live as servants of his will. In this posture, they would find their minds renewed and God’s will accomplished through them.

Jesus modeled this life of submission and service as he sat alone in Gethsemane praying to his Father to be released from the cross. This was a leveraged moment—a moment in which one small act on his part resulted in an impact many times greater than the act itself.

With the specter of the cross before him, Jesus submitted to his Father’s sovereignty and said, “…not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:42). In that moment, Jesus presented himself to God without reservation and without condition. He denied everything that could compete with his allegiance to God’s will. He maintained the posture of a servant and chose the path of the cross. And in that one act, Jesus ignited a revolution against the bondage of sin in the souls of mankind. The will of God was done through him.

In this season of Lent, I’m reminded of a leveraged moment in my own life. During the recent economic boom, I found myself considering one more major purchase that would complete my version of the American dream. I would have the house, cars, toys, and vacations I'd always wanted. In that moment of decision, the voice of the world said, "Serve yourself." But the voice of God said, "Serve Me."

Thankfully, I chose to ignore the voice of the world. I didn't make that last purchase. Instead, I downsized my home, sold unneeded possessions, eliminated my debt and adopted a simple lifestyle. That choice has made all the difference. I am now free to respond to his immeasurable grace by living as
a servant of his will instead of my lifestyle.

After nearly 30 years of following Christ, I wish I could tell you I choose well every time, but that is not the case. Instead, I struggle daily with the desire to serve myself instead of God. But Jesus is faithful. In the wake of each selfish choice, the mercy of the cross compels me to return to the altar and offer
myself once again into his service. There, Christ rekindles my passion to be used by him in anticipation of one day seeing how great an impact was made for his Kingdom through my simple and flawed service to him.




REFLECTION


What was the last leveraged moment you experienced in which you had to choose between serving God and serving yourself?


In that moment, what was the voice of the world saying to you? What was God saying to you?


In view of the mercy of the cross that you have already received, what would have been your most reasonable response to the choice you faced? How might God have used that response to advance the purposes of his Kingdom?