1212squared

The verses that keep me grounded

Whenever I’m asked to share my favorite verse, I struggle to choose. I’m the same way with songs or books. How in the world can I choose just one when there is so much? There are verses about peace and verses about strength and verses about wisdom. Ever Word of God is precious.

However, there are two sets of verses that are an anchor of sorts to me. I tend to be a “bottom line” kinda girl, and these verses cut right to the bottom line. It hit me quite a few years ago that they had the same reference, just in two books of the Bible: 12:1-2. They are Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 12:1-2. So because I like catchy things and I like nerdy things, I thought, “Hmm, how cool! (12:1-2)²!”

If you don’t have your Bible nearby, here are these two sets of verses.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
~ Romans 12:1-2, ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
~ Hebrews 12:1-2

There’s so much in those verses. If I had to restate them in my own words, they might go this way:

Considering all God did for us in sacrificing His only Son for us, the least we can do to worship Him is to give ourselves completely to Him and be obedient to Him. We shouldn’t live like the world and let it be our influence, Instead, we need to become more and more like Christ in every way so that we can do His will, which is perfect.

Without getting to far into weeds, Romans 11 talks about Israel’s hardening, the grafting in of the Gentiles, and Israel’s salvation. Salvation that comes from Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. Just like John says, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Philippians tells us that even though Jesus is/was God, He laid aside his glory and became a man. He obeyed his Father all the way to the cross. For us.

When we really dwell on what it took for God to redeem us, the only natural, logical, authentic response is to give ourselves to Him. Completely. But that doesn’t happen over night. We have a sin nature. We are “bent” like the world. But He gives us a solution for that too: be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Funny, He doesn’t say “Be transformed by doing these five things on a checklist, throwing this out of your pantry, and making sure you show up for these events.” He says, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Because He knows inward transformation creates lasting outward change, while outward change alone is just…new habits. Habits that may or may not mean anything, depending on our motives.

And how do we renew our minds? Psalm 119:9-11 gives us a clue:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.

So what about Hebrews? Well, the first verse of Hebrews 12 comes after an entire chapter listing people who God used mightily and who glorified Him through faith. The phrase “by faith/through faith” occurs 20 times. Then Hebrews 12 begins with “therefore.”

Since we are surrounded by all these examples of faith, all these stories of God’s faithfulness and the saints’ obedience, now we should get. rid of everything that would hinder us from doing as they did – living by faith for the long haul. We should persevere and keep our focus on Jesus Christ and follow His example – He endured the cross and is seated at the right hand of God.

The people in Hebrews 11 weren’t superheroes. They were humans. God used them, and He was faithful. He kept His promises. But the people also had to place their faith in Him. And many times that meant being patient and trusting God instead of what they could see. Whether it was a years old promise to give a baby to a couple of senior citizens, or the dreams of leadership to a young man who was in prison for years while the cupbearer forgets all about him. If God can work in them, He can work in us. So let’s keep going, don’t give up, and fix your eyes on Jesus.

Through the years, when I have gotten distracted, discouraged, felt irrelevant or useless, or even just dry, these four verses remind me of my job. My job as a believer is to be a living sacrifice with a renewed mind and to run the race with endurance, my eyes (and heart) firmly on Jesus.

I hope you’ll keep reading as we talk more about how to live that out everyday.