Something for nothing is uncomfortable for most people. We like to pay, to completely close the deal. The thought that a debt may hang over our heads is troublesome. That another person may have one up on us "moves us" to pay back, to get even. I see this when I do lunch with a friend. I sometimes treat. Most friends seem to need to buy lunch the next time we're together. Seldom do Christmas gifts stand without a measure of reciprocity. There are some people who actually hurt themselves trying to break even with gift giving.
I'm sure you already know that this "paying back the gift" scenario haunts the believer who somehow feels that he or she needs to get even with the God who saves. You see, for many people, a gift is not a gift unless it is matched with a gift of approximately equal value in return. No one can be ahead.
And so, we find that one of the uncomfortable realities of being a Christian is the feeling of owing a debt we cannot pay. God has done this amazing thing for us, paid the penalty for our many, many sins. And He has done so without sending us some kind of bill. Salvation is a gift. This problem is further complicated by the undeniable reality that we KNOW we cannot pay Him back. The debt is just too big.
But knowing this truth does not minimize our feelings of having "hanging over our heads" some kind of obligation. Maybe it's because we approach daily life with a performance-based agenda: If people perform well, we love them. If a product receives high ratings, we buy and use it.
But with our salvation, we are at a loss to know how to respond. Without a bill, a stated value, we do not know how much we owe. Repayment is problematic. And for the person willing to think this matter through to its logical end, a sudden, chest-gripping fear strikes. What if repayment, getting even, is more than I am capable, or willing, to pay? What if God gifts people in the same way we give gifts?
If you're that kind of person . . . STOP! God is not like you. God does not give gifts in response to gifts already received. God is a totally gratuitous giver. He likes to give. God revels in giving gifts.
But that does not mean that you are totally off the hook. There is this little matter of saying, "Thank you." We learn these two little words as young children. Mommies are always saying, "What do you say?" "Thank Grandma for the candy."
And as we grow older, perhaps even mature, we learn the power of saying "Thank you." The absence of a "thank you" might close the door to future gifts. An appropriate "thank you" may guarantee a steady flow of gifts.
How then are we to respond to God's gifts? "Thank you!" It works every time. The apostle Paul thought worship was an appropriate response to God's gifts, especially the gift of salvation. Allow me show you how this works. As Paul wrapped up his discussion of Israel's place in God's working out of salvation, he worshiped:
Romans 11:33 . . . Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! {34} "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" {35} "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" {36} For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
These are words of worship, Paul's response to his awareness of God.
That God is God, that God is sovereign, that God cares for His people, moved Paul to speak highly of God. To speak in our terms, Paul was bragging about God: "There is no one like God." "Our God is awesome." "It's all about God."
We're invited to do the same when we encounter new truth about God or when God draws near. It is an amazing thing to revel in the wonders of Almighty God. It is also humbling to recognize God's goodness to us. And more so, when we realize He gives and gives and gives without having received anything.
As Paul continued to write, he entertained a rather reasonable response to God's gift of life:
Romans 12:1 . . . Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Please note that this is not a payment for the inexpressibly wonderful gift of life. IT IS NOT.
But it might be a reasonable "thank you." In view of God's mercy, in light of the amazing gift of salvation, Paul calls us to worship. But this is not worship limited to words and songs and kneeling. This is worship through the giving of our lives.
Paul announces that our worship, our "thank you," ought to include the sacrifice of lives, our lives, being made available for God to mold, to direct, to use. We are to "offer our bodies" to God. We are to become available to, and only to, God. We are to be holy, set apart for God's sole use. As a "thank you," not as repayment for salvation, our lives are to be given back to God.
I know that some of you are thinking, "I was right!' "He does want more than I can pay." RELAX. Paul, it appears, anticipated your fears. In the very next verse, Paul offered an outline for daily living that makes this "thank you" seem reasonable, even manageable:
Romans 12:2 . . . Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
That we are to become living sacrifices is rather obvious (vs. 1). What that might look like is less clear.
Paul suggests that we begin by opening our minds, our hearts, our lives, to the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's Spirit will teach us how to be sacrifices.
Paul is very helpful as he describes two steps we should take in our search for enlightenment regarding "how to" become living sacrifices. We are to rebel and we are to change. We are to rebel. That is, we are to refuse to be conformed to the world. We are to swim against the current. We are to buck the system. We are to become round pegs in a square hole world. We are not to fit in. We are not to be like all the others just because that is what everyone is doing.
And this makes perfect sense when we consider the fact that our salvation is from this world. We are saved that we might become citizens of another world.
Furthermore, we are to be transformed. We are to change. And this change is to begin with our minds. We are to open ourselves, our minds, to God's truth by reading and studying the Bible and by listening to the Spirit's voice.
If the way we used to think led to the thoughts, words and behaviors from which we needed to be saved, then it makes perfect sense that we should learn to think differently. The Word and the Spirit work in tandem to cleanse our minds. This cleansing, followed by the clear teaching of the Bible yields transformation of the mind. And the results? Awareness of God's will, of how we are to live our lives.
This is so cool. Not only does God give before we think to give to Him, He also helps us know how, and what, to give when we decide to give to Him. And if we're thinking about saying, "Thank you, God," our renewed minds and our lives as living sacrifices is all that He desires.
In this context, the self-sacrifice of the believer as he or she lives daily life to God's glory becomes a "thank you." To live a holy life is a "thank you" to God. It is, you might say, the least we can do.
Normally, most of us would consider the "least we can do" a slight against whoever receives this "least we can do." But such is NOT the case with God. He did not give to us in order to receive from us. God gave to us, God continues to give to us, because He truly loves to give. We need to accept this simple truth.
Further, we cannot repay God. And God does not expect repayment. That's the way it is. But I would suggest that "thank you" is always appropriate. And in this case, as guided by Paul's words, we might consider making our lives available for God to invade, to mold and to use.
Listen once again to Paul's words:
Romans 12:1 . . . Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Simple obedience pleases God and opens our lives to His guiding Spirit.
