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Sacrifice

             Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

          The day before yesterday, John Ortberg’s v-log was about this verse. Yesterday, it was the verse on the Bible platform I use. I wouldn’t take that to be a sign of God’s will being that I should do some big, dramatic thing, but I’m going with the notion that it’s probably an excellent verse for me to explore again.

          Toward the end of Dr. Ortberg’s comments, he suggested that we take some time and survey ourselves, giving various parts of ourselves to God. He began with the forehead, which he connected with our minds and thoughts, but he didn’t strictly stick with Dallas Willard’s breakdown of the soul: mind (thoughts/feelings), heart (will), body, spirit, soul. He included the eyes, sexual organs, the feet, and possibly others.

          What he included and what they may have represented isn’t something we need to take as doctrine. For some, a part of the body may be associated with pain and the need for healing. For others, a part might represent a particular sin or habit to build or to break.

          I encourage  you to try this exercise. Find somewhere to sit quietly and comfortably, with a notebook and pen beside you. Relax and breath deeply. Thank God for His Pneuma (Spirit). Then begin to survey your self, giving each to God for His use. Do this aloud, so that you can hear yourself. Don’t be in a hurry. Instead, be conscious. Is something hard to give or to say? Make note of it. Does an idea come to mind? What does each part of the body you give to God represent?  Make note of it. Don’t judge. Don’t push. Don’t rush. If you don’t finish today, take up where you left off tomorrow.

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