Offering

Today’s Scripture Selection: Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

To offer oneself as a living sacrifice – holy – pleasing – it sounds to me as something that is both inviting and a little frightening.

After all, what kind of sacrifice will God require? Which will God accept?

I have heard some say, many times over the years, how they couldn’t serve in some capacity in the church. Why? Because, they said, they didn’t feel “worthy.”

And each time I have heard that, I have tried to gently remind them that none of us are “worthy.” But we are called. And God takes it from there.

So when you are called – as I am sure you will be – don’t be afraid to offer yourself, even if it does sound a bit scary.

God knows exactly what He is doing.

And it might just be that

In this particular time
In this particular place
Under this particular set of circumstances and
In light of this particular need

You are the best person for the job.

You are the one especially suited to the task.

You are the one called to sacrifice yourself in some holy way.

And when you do – the sacrifice – and you – will be accepted.

All you have to do is offer.

Prayer: Holy God, use me as you will, for your holy purpose. AMEN.

By Paul Simrell

The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program. Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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