How do you "Show Up?"

Every Monday morning I get to greet 4th-8th graders as they enter the school building.  I witness everything from smiles, to frowns, to grimaces, to sleepy eyes, to panicked stress (usually from students running late). 

People often “dread” Monday mornings.  Our culture has taught us to “live for the weekend” and to have a TGIF mindset, but is this the right way to “show up” for life?  What all might we miss when we live this way?

Paul offers an alternative way to “show up.”  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1).

The “mercies of God” remind us that  God “showed up” in all the right ways when we were headed for destruction.  “God demonstrates his love for us in this: “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Paul is clear in Romans 12:1 that when we really “taste and see” the mercies of God it will change us.  It will change everything.  We will present (offer) our bodies (all of us - heart, soul, mind, will etc.) as a present (gift) to God in an act of full surrender (living sacrifice) in each present moment.  When we live this way we will “show up” to school, work, church, dinner, ball games, music recitals, coffee meetings etc. in a totally different way.

May we be those so moved by the mercies of God that it is our aim and our joy to “show up” standing in awe of God.  May we present (offer) our lives as a present (gift) to God in every present moment of every minute of every day.

In awe of Him,
Steven