I am not a big Star Trek fan, but at the same time I have a special place tucked away in my brain for Spock. I have always been one to look for the logical explanation in everything … even with the things of God. I know, dangerous ground! But I was pleased to discover that “logic” does play a part in our spirituality.
Rom 12:1 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 KJV.
I have always paused on the last part that verse and the word “reasonable.” Is it logical for me to determine what my reasonable service is, or is it defined in the Bible for me to follow? Well, it is right there in verse 1.
As we have it here, the King James translates it as your reasonable service, the RSV says your spiritual worship and Phillips says an act of intelligent service. The reason for the difference lies in translating the word in Greek. The early Greeks translated it as logikos, from which we get our word logic. But the Greek scholars of our time have translated it its spiritual context: a life of yieldness to the Lord God in order that He may live His life in us; therefore, spiritual worship.
My logic tells me that we have come to the Cross and looked up at the love God has poured out upon us. It logically follows that we should go out and live our life in a way that is worthy of that love. The way we walk, talk, and carry ourselves should reflect how much we really do love Him. That is the life that is acceptable unto God … living the way that is best for us … living for Him.
So, if put it all together and the result is … intelligent, spiritual worship.
The believer who knows that he or she has truly trusted in Jesus as Lord of their life is now beseeched (parakaleo; implored) to live a true Christian life; the life we have been given in the Holy Spirit … Christ’s life. If we will, then as a Paul tells us, we will be conformed.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image [character] of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
It is reasonable then that we should worship Jesus in the spirit, and in return we will become just like Him as we reflect His life … His character will become our character. As a result, we will no longer be conformed to this world. We are being transformed into Jesus’ image day-by-day as we “work out” what God has “worked in.”
Phil 2:12-13 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. KJV
And we will be fully conformed into His image when He calls us home … Now that is logical!