OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
[p. 570] OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
We may learn from Romans 12: 1 that God looks for definite movement on the part of His saints toward Himself.
We are too apt generally to think of how God has moved in regard of us, and to rest in that which meets our need without considering what is due to God, and what a heart that loves Him would delight to do in movement towards Him. It is the compassion of God that moves the heart, not merely the grace presented in the gospel towards all, but the sense in the soul of sovereign mercy, so that each individual saint has the deep consciousness, ‘God has had compassion on me’. It gives one a profound sense of distinguishing and electing mercy to which the heart loves to respond. But the response is most practical, for it is the body which is presented as a living sacrifice. It is not merely what is inward, but the body is given to God — a free-will offering. When this presentation has once taken place God holds the saint to it. He holds us in love to our vow of dedication and we become subjects of discipline accordingly. Much of God’s discipline is simply God holding His saints to their bond, if one may so say, and this is most blessed. God regards every one of His saints in the light of their best and most devoted day. The day of absolute dedication to God is ever cherished, we may say, in His memory as the true characteristic of His saint, and He affords all the help of His wisdom and love to make good in a practical way the desires of His saint’s heart. In view of Romans 12 the saint’s body is “holy”. It is no longer the vessel of the flesh, but of the Spirit, and is held for God’s will. We never know how good and perfect and acceptable God’s will is until we prove it, and the proving comes as we practically do it. All works from within; it is the renewing of the mind that leads to transformation. The outward flows from the inward.