Not all Prep Work - Actually Do Something

Put on the whole armour of God ... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit ... for all saints; And for me" - Ephesians 6:18-19a

Preparation accomplishes little unless something is actually done. Our defence against wickedness is not all about us or about us getting ready, it involves actually doing something.

Our task? Prayer; being alert and praying.

Prayer is not a once a day, week, month thing, it is to be our primary activity - as we drive, work, play, whatever - always being alert to a need to take to our heavenly Father

Be ... fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ... continuing instant in prayer - Romans 10a, 11b, 12d

- fritz

Tearing up the "Bucket List"

"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

God is not interested in a cold dead sacrifice. He wants something alive and functional in this present world.

Recently a popular movie called "The Bucket List" showed two dying men on a mission to complete the list of things they wanted to accomplish before they "Kicked the Bucket!"

Tear up your bucket list on God's altar.

It's "reasonable service" to pray,

"Father, here is my body - my hands, my feet, my eyes, my mouth, all of me - including everything I ever wanted to do with them." - (Your name goes here)

- fritz

A Whole Person

[T]he very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1st Thessalonians 5:23

It is a mistake to believe God is only interested in our "soul".

God created us spirit, soul, and body¹ in his image² and for a reason. One should presume the original intent has not been changed, only delayed, by humanity's obstinance.

Jesus came to preserve the whole person and fulfill God's design in us. Submitted to God, our bodies are holy and pleasing³ to him and he has a divine purpose for them.

Take care of your body, God has a use for it.

- fritz

^{1 - Genesis 2:7 - "breath" and "spirit" are the word in Hebrew
2 - Genesis 1:26
3 - Romans 12:1}

This Old House

"[O]ffer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God .... Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:1a, 2a

I enjoy TV shows like "This Old House". They start out with a damaged, worn down, obsolete house then piece by piece transform it, with the help of the owner, into something valuable. It is still recognizable on the outside, but the inside has become very livable.

God does something similar with our bodies. We start out in sad shape, full of sin and strife, hangups and phobias, broken relationships and you name it. God purchases us ¹ and begins piece by piece to transform us, with our cooperation, into something valuable.

We are usually still recognizable on the outside, but the inside becomes very livable for both him and us.

- fritz

^{1 - Acts 20:28}