KEEP THINGS SIMPLE

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual/divinely-reasonable worship (λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν). Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to be high-minded above/beyond what needs to be minded (μὴ ὑπερφρονεῖν παρ᾽ὃ δεῖ φρονεῖν), but to think with sober judgment (φρονεῖν εἰς τὸ σωφρονεῖν), each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.” (Rom 12: 1-3)

The message I carry away from this passage today is, “Keep things simple!” By and in the Word (“Logos”) of God, we are given the Way of offering “worship” to Him, and that Way is “logic-al” (logike) or “divinely-reasonable,” made accessible to all of us “according to the measure of faith” God has assigned every one of us. But it’s not always easy, to keep things simple, particularly for those of us who tend to overthink things, or perhaps to occupy our minds and hearts with matters “above/beyond what needs to be minded,” – and that is our here and now; our immediate responsibilities, according to our vocation.

If I find myself overburdened today, with overthinking things, let me simplify matters and hand all that “stinking thinking” over to God. Let me re-connect with Him, in heartfelt prayer, and let myself “be transformed by the renewal of my mind,” in the simplicity of God’s grace. God, help me do the next right thing today, and move forward in Your loving presence. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” with all of us on this sunny Monday, Lord, and thank You for the small measure of faith You give me today.