” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”–Romans 12:1
A Christian man had quoted this verse, urging those whom he had addressed to present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice. When he closed, a good friend who sat beside him said, “John, the next time you quote that verse, you would better quote all of it.”

“Didn’t I quote it all? “

“No; you left off the last words, ‘which is your reasonable service.’ That is very important.”

J. R. Miller commented, “We had better quote the whole verse. It is not an unreasonable thing that God asks us to do when he beseeches us to present ourselves to him as a living sacrifice.

He is our Father, and we are his children; is it unreasonable that a child shall be asked to do a father’s will?

We may think of our redemption, and remember at what tremendous cost Christ bought us, and then of all the blessings and hopes that are ours through his sacrifice for us. Is it unreasonable that we should be asked to consecrate our lives to God when he has done such things for us?

We may think, too, of what will be the result if we do not yield ourselves to God—that our lives will be lost in sin’s darkness; and of the good that will come to us through devoting ourselves to him—. Is it, then, unreasonable that we should be called to make this presentation of ourselves to God?“

“Be watchful….“. – Revelation 3:2

Satan is watching to ensnare us, the world is watching to exult over us, and God is watching to protect us. Jesus, our best friend, says to us, “BE WATCHFUL.”

Watch against the spirit of the world, against thy easily besetting sins, against seasons of temptation, and against Satan, the sworn enemy of thy soul. Watch for opportunities to do good, for answers to prayer, for the appearance of God as a God of providence. Unite prayer to God, dependance on His holy word, and watchfulness, together, pray to be kept from sin, in temptation, unspotted from the world; trust in God to answer, but do not leave the throne; and then watch as though all depended upon thy diligence and efforts.

Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always.” But trust not to thy watchfulness, but while watching trust in God. He who keepeth thee will not slumber. He is with thee when on guard, as well as when thou art feasting on His word and rejoicing at His table. He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” Watch ye therefore, and pray always.- James Smith, 1840

O gracious God, in Whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.

“ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them” 1 Samuel 2:8

What an amazing stoop of love is that–from His throne in the Heaven of heavens, the Lord reaches down to the dunghills of earth–that He may deliver those who are in a lost and loathsome estate!

But this verse tells us of something yet more wonderful than the grace which seeks out filthy objects who are a mass of corruption–making known how high it elevates them: “To set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.”

God does nothing by halves. He exalts beggars to the status of “beloved children.” He takes them into the place of nearness unto Himself. He brings them into union with His dear Son, making them “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ!” (Romans 8:17). He takes them out of the miry clay of an unregenerate state–and sets them upon the rock. Marvelous transition and exaltation is that! Translated from the most abject condition–to the highest possible dignity!
Shame is replaced by the highest honor;
filthy rags are replaced by the spotless robe of righteousness,
poverty is replaced by the unsearchable riches of Christ!

We rightly marvel at the goodness and power of God in raising poor beggars from such depths to such heights–but let us also be awed and solemnized by recalling afresh the dreadful price which had to be paid before that could righteously be done. The abasement of the Son of God was necessary–in order to the advancement of vile worms of the earth. He who was rich had to sound the lowest level of poverty–before we could be made rich. The Beloved of the Father had to be made an object of shame–before we could be raised. The Lord of glory must die–in order for Hell-deserving sinners to be made alive!–A W Pink, 1952