The Reason for the Therefore

Scripture: Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Romans 11:33,35 (ish)

Observation: Paul will begin chapter 12 of his letter with what is perhaps the most important "therefore" statement in the Bible ... a declaration that because of all he has said to that point, we therefore should live our lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord, giving him everything of ourselves at all times. However, he precedes that declaration with this summary of what he has been talking about. Effectively, the Lord has given us everything and done everything for us. His wisdom is beyond our comprehension - we could never come close to figuring it all out - but if in our limited understanding we tried to figure out how the world worked the only logical conclusion is that God runs it, and therefore all praise and glory goes to him, at all times.

Application: Romans 12:1-2 is one of my 2-3 favorite verses in the Bible, and probably the one I completely and totally fail to live out in my life the most. I don't make my life a living sacrifice. I don't do only things that are holy and pleasing the God. While I don't conform to the world, I resist being transformed by the spirit. Perhaps I fall short of living into the instructions of Romans 12 because I forget the reasons summarized in Romans 11.

The Lord has given me everything. This fact is so very, very evident. There is no logic to how the world, or how the universe operates, without the reconciling logic of a creator. This fact is intellectually solid. No human could rationally explain all aspects of human behavior without a discussion good vs. evil that only exists in people. This fact is explicitly explained only by scripture.

The Lord has given me everything, THEREFORE ... I must live my life as a sacrifice to the Lord. How dare I do anything less.

Prayer: Lord, my God and redeemer and father and judge and protector, I seek your grace and forgiveness this day. I have failed to be a living sacrifice. Please forgive me. More and more, may my life become an aroma, pleasing to you in heaven, transformed by your Holy Spirit. Amen.