I Urge You

As I slowly savored the words of Romans 12:1-2 this morning, I was drawn to a word that actually grabbed my attention last week as I was studying for the sermon: “Urge.”  Paul says, “I urge you brothers and sisters…”  The background of the word is that it was used by military commanders as they were encouraging their troops when on the verge of going into battle.  The leader would urge their soldiers to be brave, remember their training, fight hard, watch each other’s backs, and perhaps most importantly, remember who they were and what they were fighting for.  

I’m thinking Paul chose this word, urge, very carefully.  He knew what his fellow believers in Rome were up against: A society and way of life, that for the most part, was counter to the way and life of Jesus.  Paul was urging them to remember the mercy of God and to constantly be a living sacrifice.  He was urging them to remember that that kind of life pleases God and is true worship.  He was urging them to stay committed to the transforming work of the Spirit of God from the inside out and not to be squeezed into the mold of a culture that, in many ways, ran in opposition to the ways of God.

You and I face battles every day.  And Paul, acting as a one of our commanders, is still urging us to stay true to the mission of God.  We battle the self.  I can be my own worst enemy!  We battle temptation and the lure of conforming to the standards of the world.  We are surrounded by it!  We battle the forces of the Evil One.  He is strong but God is stronger!

We need to constantly remember that while these little battles may still be raging, the war is actually already won.  And that the only way we win battles is by letting the Spirit of God transform us into the men and women of God who are equipped and ready for whatever the day might bring.

So… I urge you… remember who you are and what you are fighting for… and let God transform you!

David