Your Reasonable Service

In the movie version of the 1844 novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, Edmond Durant, who would later assume the title of the count, risks his own life to save a pirate named Jacobo from death. Jacobo is so overwhelmed by appreciation for Edmond’s act of kindness that he dedicates the remainder of his life to the service of Edmond.

He constantly and tirelessly attempts to be of service in every situation. This is done out of a sense of gratitude and a debt owed that can never be repaid. Jacobo, in essence, gave his life over to the service of Edmond. Jacobo didn’t live for his gain anymore. He lived for the gain of Edmond. Jacobo’s life, with his ambitions and desires, was placed aside to let the ambitions and desires of Edmond rule Jacobo’s life.

Jesus came to earth to do for us spiritually what Edmond did for Jacobo physically. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:16-17. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,” 1 Corinthians 1:18. Having canceled the charge that was against us, which was contrary to us: He hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross,” Colossians 2:14.

There are two major differences in what Edmond did for Jacobo, and what Christ did for us. First, Edmond’s concern was physical, and therefor temporary. Christ’s concern was spiritual, and therefore eternal. Second, Edmond only risked his life, he did not sacrifice it. Christ actually sacrificed His own life in order to save our spiritual souls. When we consider that had Edmond not risked his life to save the life of Jacobo, Jacobo would not have had a life of his own, it becomes reasonable to expect Jacobo to make sacrifices to attempt to repay Edmond for what he had done.

Yes, there are differences in these two situations, ours and Jacobo’s, but there is a striking similarity. If God had not intervened to save our eternal souls from the condemnation we had earned (see Col. 2:14 above) our eternal existence would be worse than we are able to imagine. We would be in torment that we would not wish on anyone (Luke 16:19-31.) Eternally. No hope. Eternally. Wretched beyond belief. Eternally. But thank God, through His grace He “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins,” Colossians 1:13-14.

It doesn’t matter who you are, this is the best thing that could ever happen to you. Are you a king in a palace, every need and desire tended to immediately by servants? Eternal salvation is something your servants can’t provide for you, but God has already given you a path to obtain it. Are you living in poverty, never knowing if you’ll be able to eat or provide for yourself in any way? What God has provided for you by the death of His Son is so much more important than eating, clothing, having a place to lay down and be safe, or whatever else you might imagine. We are talking about eternal salvation opposed to eternal damnation. Nothing else really matters.

So, what should be our response? Paul provides an answer. He begs us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,” Romans 12:1. Under the Law of Moses God”s followers were constantly making sacrifices to God. These sacrifices consisted of dead animals according to the ordinances found in Leviticus. A follower of God was to choose a “spotless,” or “flawless,” animal from their flock, a “perfect” animal. This would exact a certain amount of cost to the family making the offering or sacrifice. If they didn’t own such an animal, they would have to buy it for the sacrifice. David once famously said, “I will surely buy it from you for a price; for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing,” 2 Samuel 24:24.

Paul is saying it’s time to set a higher standard. It’s time to increase the cost of following God. It’s time to be more serious about our service to God.

The sacrifice we make is not going to be in the form of dead animals, no matter how spotless or flawless they may be. Our sacrifice is to be of our own selves, our own bodies. “I discipline my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway,” 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Our sacrifice will not involve death, but it will involve living. We make a living sacrifice. As we go about our daily activities, as we must to survive on this earth, our thoughts about our own personal gain, our own personal wants and desires, will be secondary. They will be sacrificed for a greater good which is the service of our God. Our first thoughts will be about what provides gain for God and His kingdom. Our first thoughts are about what God wants, and what God desires. Our life has been sacrificed and replaced with His. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me,” Galatians 2:20.

The sacrifices that I make of my body (and of the “me” that lives in my body) should be holy and acceptable to God. To be “holy” in the Bible is to be set apart for a single purpose, and that purpose is to be pleasing to God. If we are set apart for the purpose of pleasing God, there are many things that may be going on around us in which we will not participate. We have a single purpose, and those things detract from it. Our purpose is not to indulge in physical pleasures because we have died to that. Our purpose is not to be ruled by the flesh because our lives are ruled by God and what pleases Him. We ask the question of every activity, “Is this acceptable to God?” As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living; Because it is written, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in reverence,” 1 Peter 1:15-17.

This is only reasonable. Paul says that what he is asking, begging, us to do is not outlandish nor should it be considered intimidating. Instead, it is what one should expect. It is reasonable. As we would consider it reasonable for Jacobo to use the life that he was granted by the kind intervention of Edmond for the cause of Edmond, it is reasonable for a Christian to use his/her life for the cause of Christ. In fact, it is much more reasonable because Christ’s commitment was much more costly than Edmond’s and our reward is far greater than Jacobo’s. It’s interesting to note that the Greek word interpreted as “reasonable,” could also mean rational, spiritual, logical, divinely reasonable. In other words, there is no argument one could present which could refute Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:1. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,” 1 John 5:3.

Will you look around you at those who are “of this world” and follow them, serve the gods they serve? Or will you perform your reasonable service? Joshua would answer with something like, “as for me and my house, we will make a living sacrifice of our bodies.” What is your answer?