Believers Should be Known for Giving Back

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV 

In a Facebook post titled, "SLAM GIVES BACK" posted Saturday afternoon by the Fort Leonard Wood Sweat Like A Mother group, Tessa Phillips said this about the photos she shared:

Some of our SLAM mamas spent this beautiful morning volunteering at the 10K turnaround mark for the Froghill 10K & Half Marathon!

And let me tell you, this was SO amazing! Even our kiddos got involved, handing out water, Gatorade, and snacks to all the runners and walkers! 

What a beautiful morning, an amazing community, and such a great cause!
We are so glad SLAM FLW could be a part of today and give back alongside so many amazing people!

This is what community is all about! 

And the best part? The amazing moms from SLAM weren't the only individuals that stepped up to help make the 13th Annual Frog Hill Half Marathon/10k/5k  (a race I have the blessing of directing) a success. We had countless volunteers from various age groups and walks of life "give back" by working water stations, helping at the finish line, directing traffic, serving food, providing medical care, passing out medals, and a million other things that go into a two-day event that hosted more than 200 runners. 

Even with the help of the volunteers, though, the event could not have happened without the many sponsors who "gave back" by donating money, food, hotel rooms, resources, and their time as well to our race. To say I was overwhelmed by the kindness of so many community members would be an understatement. 

But, this is the deal. By and large, almost everyone who "gave back" in one way or another is a follower of Jesus Christ. Which should come as no surprise since believers have a lot to be thankful for!

We have so much to be thankful for, in fact, that Paul said, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

And you can be sure that this "therefore" is important. 

You see, Paul is connecting what he is about to tell us to do (offer our bodies as a living sacrifice) with everything he has just explained about what God has already done for us. And believe me, God has done a lot for us!

In Romans 1–11, Paul explains the gospel: we are sinners who cannot save ourselves, but God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to do for us what we could never do on our own. We are saved by grace through faith, not by being good enough or doing enough good works. 

So when Paul says, “Therefore… in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,” he is essentially saying, Because of everything God has done for you, this is how you should respond… surrendering all you have in service back to Him. 

One of the ways we become a living sacrifice, then, is giving our time, our energy, and our supplies to serve others—remembering that we don’t serve to earn God’s love; we serve because of the love and mercy Jesus has already given us. And we serve to inspire others to seek the One who inspires our service. 

So, be known for "giving back" by looking for opportunities to serve Jesus by serving your community my friend. You'll not only bless others but you, yourself, will be blessed by doing so. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that, in light of all that You have done for us, we are to offer up every part of ourselves--our time, our talents, and our treasures--in service to You by serving others. Compel us to look for ways to do this Lord that we might be known for giving back and, in this way, inspire the lost to seek You. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!