I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
In Acts 7:59, they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Whether or not we are ever called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice like Stephen, we are all called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. I love Romans 12 because it tells me how to be a Christian. Not always easy, because the problem with a living sacrifice is it keeps crawling off the altar. Paul described his own struggle in this regard in Romans 7. He continued to struggle until he realized he could only find victory in Christ and the new covenant of grace. Paul wrote:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
As we continue through Acts, remember to ask to be filled with the Spirit each day, to have some Scripture time with prayer each day, to sing some Psalms or hymns or spiritual songs in your heart each day, and to always trust in the grace of God. (I John 1:9) Walking in the Spirit is the key to victory. The law (the flesh) will only condemn us.
Father, thank You for remembering our sin no more, for removing it as far as the East is from the West. Thank You most of all for your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com