The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.
(Joseph Campbell)
If you were to talk with Christians, especially younger, newer ones, I think you’d find that many, if not most, of them would express a desire to enter into some form of ministry. Whatever it is, their intention, for the most part, is to serve others. Granted, there’s a certain subtle pride that can come with being recognized as an apostle or a prophet or an evangelist or a pastor and teacher, and I know that this can be a factor. But I believe the majority are seeking for the right reasons. However, to attain just about any ministry in any church requires a certain amount of training; and some of the ministries require an extensive, and often expensive, education, just the same as with any other college. This, then, can be rather prohibitive. Now, I didn’t mention this to say anything against the training required for ministry; and I realize that it needs to be in many instances. But there’s something that the Lord wants from every single one of His people, whether or not they pursue a formal ministry; and it’s a far more intensive training than any university can provide.
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)
This verse presents something to every one of us that requires us to go far beyond our comfort zone. Nobody relishes the idea of self-sacrifice; yet it’s what the Lord is requesting from us anyway. He understands our hesitancy in this, because even Jesus, when facing the start of the passion in the garden, prayed: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). But, while He understands our hesitancy, He also understands the need to submit to what He’s requesting. After all, where would we be if Jesus had declared that He just couldn’t bring Himself to go the distance? Well, if we want to be like Him, we’d better be willing to go the distance just exactly as He did.
Now, no: presenting our bodies to be a living sacrifice is most definitely not pleasant by any means. God never said it was going to be. It wouldn’t be a sacrifice if it was pleasant and easy, would it? Yet it’s vital to our walk with the Lord. We have a choice. We can present our bodies as a sacrifice and become what Jesus was and is, or we can refrain and miss the mark. As a matter of fact God, through Paul, tells us that it’s our reasonable service. It shouldn’t be something amazingly special, or something that will cause all heaven to rejoice. However, in one way it is, simply because so many Christians shirk it. Multitudes of believers willingly sacrifice their time or their finances; but that’s where it tends to stop.
The Lord didn’t stop there, though. He continued with the following verse.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:2)
Before I continue, I want to state verse two from the Wycliffe Bible from 1380 A.D. as it was originally written.
And nyle ye be confourmyd to this world, but be ye reformed in newnesse of youre wit, that ye preue which is the wille of God, good, and wel plesynge, and parfit.
(Romaynes 12:2)
The reason I’m bringing out this verse in that translation has to do with the fact that I’ve heard various believers questioning whether Paul was speaking about God having one will or three: a good one, an acceptable one, and a perfect one. Through this we can understand that God has only one will, and it’s good and well pleasing and perfect. His will doesn’t vary to fit our desires and lifestyle. Instead, He empowers us to alter our desires and lifestyle to align with His will. But, as I’ve said before and will continue to say, we can choose to submit to Him or to refrain.
I’ve heard Christians praying that God would give them the mind of Christ; but this next verse tells us something different. Now, consider this. Far too many believers have this concept that Jesus lived perfectly and performed the miracles because He was God in the flesh. That would make our ability to attain to His image impossible; yet we read:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
(Romans 8:29)
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was and is God, the second Person of the Godhead, and our Lord and King. At the same time, He took upon Himself flesh, and was fully man, so that He could also become our Savior. Therefore, being fully man, He chose to not use His divinity to do all He did, so that any person might be able to follow Him and could come into His likeness. With that said, then how, as a man, could He have done all that He did and walk as He walked? Very simply, He relied totally upon the Holy Spirit with no doubt whatsoever. He knew who He was, who the Father was, and who the Holy Spirit was. Consequently, we read:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Philippians 2:5 to 8)
What I’m trying to say is that the mind of Christ that so many Christians pray for is not an anointing. It’s a conscious effort on our part to change the way we think, which will then change everything else about us. Yes: it requires God, because we most definitely can’t do it on our own. However, when we make the initial effort to do as Jesus did in Philippians, then God will empower us to continue with it. The result will be our transformation.
Therefore, the Lord is asking a question of us, and it’s a big question. We can all pretty much heartily accept a ministry; but can we “say a hearty yes” to the sacrifice that He’s requesting of us? To “say a hearty yes” to a ministry is good, because through it we’ll reach others for the Lord. But to “say a hearty yes” to the sacrifice He’s requesting of us is better, because, not only is it vital to be able to minister to others, but it also brings us into the image of Jesus.