Recently I have been challenged when thinking about the Bible and God's promises and commands found within, to put my self in the middle of that. To use "I" statements in the Bible verses I read to help me experience it in a manner more directed at me.
For Example: "For God so loved me, John, that He gave His only begotten Son, that if John believes on Him, John will not perish but John will have everlasting life."
I recently did a personal Bible study on Roman's 12:1, 2 where I tried to understand in more depth what Paul was telling us and in the process I "first personized" it as described above and I kind of did an expanded / amplified version based on what I have learned.
I present what I came up with for your own consideration...
Romans 12:1-2 (the John Christopher version) Therefore I urge myself, John, because God has and will
protect me from the consequences of my sinful acts, to release and hand over to
and lay in front of God my body (even my selfish and self centered desires) as a living
and holy sacrifice, good
pleasing to God, which is my sensible
/ logical and fitting ceremonial worship task (as a priest would go through the
task of sacrificing something or burning incense…). 2And how is this sacrifice
presented? By my not being pressed into
the pattern and schema that matches up with this age (For example: in this age it’s
normal to be sexual, have alcohol in excess, to not be radically religious, to
NOT be constantly checking in with God throughout the day) That is the pattern I am walking away from,
RATHER: in a way that is impossible to fully understand my mind renewing in
place as I live my life will transfigure me as Jesus was transfigured into
something completely different and more glorious …so I may discover through
continual testing, action, and examination what the desire (will) of God is, 1)
that which is good for me and 2) that which is good pleasing for me (as this whole exercise is good
pleasing to God) and 3) that which results in the perfect / complete and mature
me.
In addition. Here is a reflection on our place in the world.
We are
part of the ever expanding universe with time and space flying out constantly
in every direction. We are part of the
never ending cause and effect series of events.
God flung this into existence. We can choose to just be part of the ever
expanding universe that God flung out there and just be part of the rocks and
elements and light and atoms and stars that hurtle through space and be
conscious that it is happening but God has invited us to be more than just part
of that creation, more than just a fleetingly conscious member of the mass of
space/time/matter. For the fleeting
moments of our consciousness He has invited us to commune with the One who conceives,
flings, and sustains all of it. He
invites us to be more than just the creation but to be creation in conscious
communion with the Creator. God help me
to thus commune with You if only for moments.
