“And may the Lord make you increase in abound in love to one another and to all... so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness...
“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:13-14
To present is the Greek word paristemi, Strongs #3936. It also translates as 'yield.' It means to place a person or thing at one's disposal. [1] We are to yield ourselves to God, putting ourselves at His disposal as “instruments of righteousness to God.”
To yield, according to the Nelson's Topical Bible Index means to produce or to surrender.[2] It is used in Genesis 1:11-12 where God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”
Paul says in Romans 11:16-18, “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
We have been grafted into Jesus, as a branch is grafted onto the root of a tree. Therefore, as we yield to Him, we produce fruit after His kind – holiness. Holiness is not something we produce by following the law or trying to conform to certain behaviors or practices. This only results in self-righteousness.
Many of the Israelites were full of self-righteousness. They knew the law and tried to conform to the law in their own strength. Paul says in Romans 10:3-4, “For they [Israel] being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Jesus says in Matthew 5:20, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
We obtain righteousness --right standing with God-- by our faith in God. Paul says in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
And holiness is produced as we present or yield ourselves to God, allowing Him to bear His fruit in our lives. It is not conforming our actions to the law that make us holy but our willingness to allow God to transform us from the inside out.
Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “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 perfect will of God.”
To present or to yield can also mean to bring near in fellowship or intimacy [1]. It is as we draw near to God in devotion to Him that we are yielded and transformed from the inside out more into His likeness.
Amos 3:3 ask, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed? We draw near to God by agreeing in our hearts with Him. We obey Him, yielding to His will out of love and reverence. Jesus says in John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
This is different than trying to follow the law in our own strength -which cannot bear fruit in our lives because we are not abiding in the vine (John 15:4). Romans 7:6 says, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
“Lord give us strength to live for you and glorify Your Name” sings
Paul asks in Romans 6:15-19, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”
Slave here is the Greek word doulos, which means servant or “one who gives himself up to the will of another.”[3] And as David Johnson mentioned in his sermon this past weekend, to be a servant of means the one to whom we show our devotion. [4]
The path to holiness is one of whole-hearted devotion to God and not one of conforming our behaviors to the law. FB Meyers writes, “Holiness is wholeness--that is, the whole-hearted devotion of a whole nature to God, the consecration of every power to His service. This leads us to lean hard on God, and to seek His companionship and fellowship. (Our Daily Walk, Feb 18th)” [5]
Holiness, the Greek word hagiosune, Strong’s #42, is demonstrated by our actual conduct. [6] But it flows out of our heart devotion. The Hayford Bible Handbook defines it as, “The process, quality, and condition of a holy disposition and the quality of holiness in personal conduct.” [7]
As David Johnson has noted in a sermon, conformity of our behaviors comes from external pressures. We feel pressured by our church, family, work, culture, and other activities to conform to certain behaviors in order to fit in. [8]
The results of holiness does not look the same as with conformity (getting all the actions right). D.L Moody writes, “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.” [9] Jesus tells his disciples that when the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so that all that is left is pure, “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43)
Coming back to Romans 12:1-2, it says not to be 'conformed' but to be 'transformed.' True holiness will shine forth from the inside out. It draws and points others to God. Conformity is about fitting in and being accepted. It is like perfectionism, which is about looking good. We are seeking to be appreciated or accepted (drawing people to us) rather than pointing them to God.
Conformity is the result of our own comparisons with others. Brene Brown writes, “Comparison is all about conformity and competition.” She writes that we do not compare ourselves to those groups that have totally different values and traditions. For example, we most frequently don't compare our lives with a famous movie star, but with someone at our work or in our neighborhood. She notes, “we want to be the best or have the best of our group.” [10]
Brene Brown goes on to write, “The comparison mandated becomes this crushing paradox of 'fit in and stand out!' It's not cultivate self-acceptance, belonging, and authenticity; it's be just like everyone else, or better.” [11]
When we are always comparing ourselves to others, we go back and forth between being filled with pride for being better than others or feeling inadequate for being not as good as others. And as Judy Hougen mentioned once, we cannot love someone if we are competing with them. [12] Rather we see them as an object of comparison and, more than likely, despise them in our hearts because of it.
Competing, comparing, and conforming derail us from entering into the fullness of what God has for us. It leaves us discontent and dissatisfied with ourselves and others. We cannot be fulfilled and content when we are comparing ourselves with others. We are only truly fulfilled as we become who God created us to be.
God desires us to be content in fulfilling our purpose in Him. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” We need to embrace who God made us to be individually and allow Him to transform us into this. He does this as we set our hearts to seek Him in devotion.
God has a unique plan and design for each one of us. God tells Jeremiah in Jer. 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
God knew who He made Jeremiah to be and was fully capable of transforming Him into what He called Jeremiah to be. If Jeremiah chose conforming and competing with others to fit in, rather than yielding to God out of devotion, he would have thwarted God's efforts to make him what he was created for. He would have missed out on God's purpose for his life that would truly fulfill him.
Even if Jeremiah strived to fulfill what he thought his calling as a prophet should look like based upon his own or others expectations, this would not be the same as yielding to God. When we strive to obtain our identity, even when we think it is what God has called us to be, we will find ourselves conforming to our own and other's expectations rather than experiencing true transformation.
God in His great wisdom, not only forms people uniquely for their calling, but then places them among others who are uniquely different so that they can learn to love each other. And they learn to love each other not by comparing, competing or trying to be like each other, but by complimenting each other, encouraging each other, and making room for each other's gifts.
Paul says in Romans 12:3-5, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has deal to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
God has created space for us to use our unique gifts to add value to others within the body of Christ. Paul tells the church in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 17-19, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in fact the body is not one member but many...
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”
Unity within the body of Christ does not come about by people coming together in a group and holding hands. Rather unity comes about as each person, with their unique giftings, comes into line with the purposes of God for their lives and into line with their position within the body of Christ.
The ear, nose, mouth, foot, hand, elbow, and knee all come into alignment with each other. Each person steps into their individual position, submitting to each other out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21). And at the same time, they appreciate, value, encourage and make room for the gifts of their brother.
When the body comes together as one with all it's diversity - this is unity. They are not comparing, conforming or trying to fit in to look like everyone else, but rather all becoming who God has made them uniquely to be.
Paul goes on to say in Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
And when each person comes in line using their own unique gifts to serve each other, the whole body is built up for the benefit of all. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.”
Each person is coming alive to God's purposes, being transformed form the inside out. And Christ is at the head, directing, leading, nourishing and knitting together in love each part of the body – causing the body to grow with the increase that is from God (Col. 3:19). This is the holy bride who has began to make herself ready (Rev. 19:7).
A.W. Tozer writes, “Holy is the way God is. To be holy he does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is absolutely holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is. Because he is holy, all his attributes are holy; that is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy.”[13]
Each individual member of the body of Christ belongs to God and needs to be thought of as holy. Rather than compete, compare and try to rule over each other, we are to cherish and serve each other as members of the same body. [a]
We are to compliment each other and build each other up. Paul says in Ephesians 5:29, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”
The fruit of devotion to God which leads to holiness is always love. We cannot have true holiness apart from love. Paul writes in Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
And Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Paul paints a picture of what Christian love looks like in Romans 12:9-10. He writes, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”
Whenever we compete, compare, or try to get ahead of others, we are not walking in brotherly love. Paul says in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor;”
Rather, love is always looking to help others connect with God's purposes so they can become all God has for them to be. We see others through the eyes of God as holy onto Him and desire for them to flourish.
Paul says in Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one can edify another.” And in Romans 15:2 he says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”
In a short message, John Maxwell mentioned that we could ask ourselves regularly, “Have I learned to intentionally add value to others?”
When we live life from this paradigm, believing we are successful whenever we add value to others, it changes our heart and behaviors towards others. We no longer see success as being whenever we look better than others. Instead, it frees us to serve others. Rather than competing, we seek to complete others.
It is the ones who spend their energies to invest themselves in humbly serving others rather than concerning themselves with their own success that Jesus calls the greatest. He says in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant.”
Lord, I realize that I struggle with conformity -especially when it comes to giving words to people from You or speaking what I am hearing from You. It makes me feel vulnerable and I have too frequently shrunk back. I have failed to step out and have told myself that You are sharing something with me solely for prayer. I realize now that I missed many opportunities to build up and bless people in the body of Christ. Forgive me!
Lord, We long for the fullness of all that You have for us as the body of Christ. Free us to serve others, completing rather than competing or conforming. Help us to become all that You have for us individually and as Your body. Knit our hearts together in love as one body in unity around Your purposes.
a. The problem with comparing, competing and conforming is not only that we are using people as a measuring stick and cannot be open to love them, but that our measuring stick will always be changing.
One minute we want to be an ear because we see the ear standing out and then the next minute we want to be a nose because we see it shining and receiving the attention. What we are really doing is seeking after significance, attention and/or praise of man over the approval of God. Rather, as we seek God as our source, He remains unwavering – in who He is and in who He created us to be.
1. Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G3936
2. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Quick Reference Topical Bible Index. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995 (Nelson's Quick Reference), S. 663
3. Vine, W. E. ; Unger, Merrill F. ; White, William: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1996, S. 2:73
4, 8. Johnson, David, Sr. Pastor. Church of the Open Door. Maple Grove, MN. www.thedoor.org.
5, 9, 13. Quotes on Holiness and Sanctification. Located at: http://preceptaustin.org/holiness_quotes.htm Last Accessed: 6/14/11
6, 7. Hayford, Jack W. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Hayford's Bible Handbook. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995
10-11. Brown, Brene, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Hazelden. Center City, MN. 2010.
12. Hougen, Judy. Governing Board Chair and Elder at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, MN. www.thedoor.org.
To present is the Greek word paristemi, Strongs #3936. It also translates as 'yield.' It means to place a person or thing at one's disposal. [1] We are to yield ourselves to God, putting ourselves at His disposal as “instruments of righteousness to God.”
To yield, according to the Nelson's Topical Bible Index means to produce or to surrender.[2] It is used in Genesis 1:11-12 where God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”
Paul says in Romans 11:16-18, “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
We have been grafted into Jesus, as a branch is grafted onto the root of a tree. Therefore, as we yield to Him, we produce fruit after His kind – holiness. Holiness is not something we produce by following the law or trying to conform to certain behaviors or practices. This only results in self-righteousness.
Many of the Israelites were full of self-righteousness. They knew the law and tried to conform to the law in their own strength. Paul says in Romans 10:3-4, “For they [Israel] being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Jesus says in Matthew 5:20, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
We obtain righteousness --right standing with God-- by our faith in God. Paul says in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
And holiness is produced as we present or yield ourselves to God, allowing Him to bear His fruit in our lives. It is not conforming our actions to the law that make us holy but our willingness to allow God to transform us from the inside out.
Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “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 perfect will of God.”
To present or to yield can also mean to bring near in fellowship or intimacy [1]. It is as we draw near to God in devotion to Him that we are yielded and transformed from the inside out more into His likeness.
Amos 3:3 ask, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed? We draw near to God by agreeing in our hearts with Him. We obey Him, yielding to His will out of love and reverence. Jesus says in John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
This is different than trying to follow the law in our own strength -which cannot bear fruit in our lives because we are not abiding in the vine (John 15:4). Romans 7:6 says, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
“Lord give us strength to live for you and glorify Your Name” sings
Paul asks in Romans 6:15-19, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”
Slave here is the Greek word doulos, which means servant or “one who gives himself up to the will of another.”[3] And as David Johnson mentioned in his sermon this past weekend, to be a servant of means the one to whom we show our devotion. [4]
The path to holiness is one of whole-hearted devotion to God and not one of conforming our behaviors to the law. FB Meyers writes, “Holiness is wholeness--that is, the whole-hearted devotion of a whole nature to God, the consecration of every power to His service. This leads us to lean hard on God, and to seek His companionship and fellowship. (Our Daily Walk, Feb 18th)” [5]
Holiness, the Greek word hagiosune, Strong’s #42, is demonstrated by our actual conduct. [6] But it flows out of our heart devotion. The Hayford Bible Handbook defines it as, “The process, quality, and condition of a holy disposition and the quality of holiness in personal conduct.” [7]
As David Johnson has noted in a sermon, conformity of our behaviors comes from external pressures. We feel pressured by our church, family, work, culture, and other activities to conform to certain behaviors in order to fit in. [8]
The results of holiness does not look the same as with conformity (getting all the actions right). D.L Moody writes, “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.” [9] Jesus tells his disciples that when the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so that all that is left is pure, “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43)
Coming back to Romans 12:1-2, it says not to be 'conformed' but to be 'transformed.' True holiness will shine forth from the inside out. It draws and points others to God. Conformity is about fitting in and being accepted. It is like perfectionism, which is about looking good. We are seeking to be appreciated or accepted (drawing people to us) rather than pointing them to God.
Conformity is the result of our own comparisons with others. Brene Brown writes, “Comparison is all about conformity and competition.” She writes that we do not compare ourselves to those groups that have totally different values and traditions. For example, we most frequently don't compare our lives with a famous movie star, but with someone at our work or in our neighborhood. She notes, “we want to be the best or have the best of our group.” [10]
Brene Brown goes on to write, “The comparison mandated becomes this crushing paradox of 'fit in and stand out!' It's not cultivate self-acceptance, belonging, and authenticity; it's be just like everyone else, or better.” [11]
When we are always comparing ourselves to others, we go back and forth between being filled with pride for being better than others or feeling inadequate for being not as good as others. And as Judy Hougen mentioned once, we cannot love someone if we are competing with them. [12] Rather we see them as an object of comparison and, more than likely, despise them in our hearts because of it.
Competing, comparing, and conforming derail us from entering into the fullness of what God has for us. It leaves us discontent and dissatisfied with ourselves and others. We cannot be fulfilled and content when we are comparing ourselves with others. We are only truly fulfilled as we become who God created us to be.
God desires us to be content in fulfilling our purpose in Him. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” We need to embrace who God made us to be individually and allow Him to transform us into this. He does this as we set our hearts to seek Him in devotion.
God has a unique plan and design for each one of us. God tells Jeremiah in Jer. 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
God knew who He made Jeremiah to be and was fully capable of transforming Him into what He called Jeremiah to be. If Jeremiah chose conforming and competing with others to fit in, rather than yielding to God out of devotion, he would have thwarted God's efforts to make him what he was created for. He would have missed out on God's purpose for his life that would truly fulfill him.
Even if Jeremiah strived to fulfill what he thought his calling as a prophet should look like based upon his own or others expectations, this would not be the same as yielding to God. When we strive to obtain our identity, even when we think it is what God has called us to be, we will find ourselves conforming to our own and other's expectations rather than experiencing true transformation.
God in His great wisdom, not only forms people uniquely for their calling, but then places them among others who are uniquely different so that they can learn to love each other. And they learn to love each other not by comparing, competing or trying to be like each other, but by complimenting each other, encouraging each other, and making room for each other's gifts.
Paul says in Romans 12:3-5, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has deal to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
God has created space for us to use our unique gifts to add value to others within the body of Christ. Paul tells the church in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 17-19, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in fact the body is not one member but many...
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”
Unity within the body of Christ does not come about by people coming together in a group and holding hands. Rather unity comes about as each person, with their unique giftings, comes into line with the purposes of God for their lives and into line with their position within the body of Christ.
The ear, nose, mouth, foot, hand, elbow, and knee all come into alignment with each other. Each person steps into their individual position, submitting to each other out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21). And at the same time, they appreciate, value, encourage and make room for the gifts of their brother.
When the body comes together as one with all it's diversity - this is unity. They are not comparing, conforming or trying to fit in to look like everyone else, but rather all becoming who God has made them uniquely to be.
Paul goes on to say in Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
And when each person comes in line using their own unique gifts to serve each other, the whole body is built up for the benefit of all. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.”
Each person is coming alive to God's purposes, being transformed form the inside out. And Christ is at the head, directing, leading, nourishing and knitting together in love each part of the body – causing the body to grow with the increase that is from God (Col. 3:19). This is the holy bride who has began to make herself ready (Rev. 19:7).
A.W. Tozer writes, “Holy is the way God is. To be holy he does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is absolutely holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is. Because he is holy, all his attributes are holy; that is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy.”[13]
Each individual member of the body of Christ belongs to God and needs to be thought of as holy. Rather than compete, compare and try to rule over each other, we are to cherish and serve each other as members of the same body. [a]
We are to compliment each other and build each other up. Paul says in Ephesians 5:29, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”
The fruit of devotion to God which leads to holiness is always love. We cannot have true holiness apart from love. Paul writes in Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
And Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Paul paints a picture of what Christian love looks like in Romans 12:9-10. He writes, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”
Whenever we compete, compare, or try to get ahead of others, we are not walking in brotherly love. Paul says in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor;”
Rather, love is always looking to help others connect with God's purposes so they can become all God has for them to be. We see others through the eyes of God as holy onto Him and desire for them to flourish.
Paul says in Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one can edify another.” And in Romans 15:2 he says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”
In a short message, John Maxwell mentioned that we could ask ourselves regularly, “Have I learned to intentionally add value to others?”
When we live life from this paradigm, believing we are successful whenever we add value to others, it changes our heart and behaviors towards others. We no longer see success as being whenever we look better than others. Instead, it frees us to serve others. Rather than competing, we seek to complete others.
It is the ones who spend their energies to invest themselves in humbly serving others rather than concerning themselves with their own success that Jesus calls the greatest. He says in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant.”
Lord, I realize that I struggle with conformity -especially when it comes to giving words to people from You or speaking what I am hearing from You. It makes me feel vulnerable and I have too frequently shrunk back. I have failed to step out and have told myself that You are sharing something with me solely for prayer. I realize now that I missed many opportunities to build up and bless people in the body of Christ. Forgive me!
Lord, We long for the fullness of all that You have for us as the body of Christ. Free us to serve others, completing rather than competing or conforming. Help us to become all that You have for us individually and as Your body. Knit our hearts together in love as one body in unity around Your purposes.
a. The problem with comparing, competing and conforming is not only that we are using people as a measuring stick and cannot be open to love them, but that our measuring stick will always be changing.
One minute we want to be an ear because we see the ear standing out and then the next minute we want to be a nose because we see it shining and receiving the attention. What we are really doing is seeking after significance, attention and/or praise of man over the approval of God. Rather, as we seek God as our source, He remains unwavering – in who He is and in who He created us to be.
1. Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G3936
2. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Quick Reference Topical Bible Index. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995 (Nelson's Quick Reference), S. 663
3. Vine, W. E. ; Unger, Merrill F. ; White, William: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1996, S. 2:73
4, 8. Johnson, David, Sr. Pastor. Church of the Open Door. Maple Grove, MN. www.thedoor.org.
5, 9, 13. Quotes on Holiness and Sanctification. Located at: http://preceptaustin.org/holiness_quotes.htm Last Accessed: 6/14/11
6, 7. Hayford, Jack W. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Hayford's Bible Handbook. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995
10-11. Brown, Brene, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Hazelden. Center City, MN. 2010.
12. Hougen, Judy. Governing Board Chair and Elder at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, MN. www.thedoor.org.
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