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. 12:2 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. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; ROMANS 12:1-6 HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED A PENCIL? MOST OF US HAVE USED A PENCIL IN STUDYING, BUT HAVE WE STUDIED A PENCIL? THERE ARE A FEW LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM A SIMPLE PENCIL.

FIRST, REALIZE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR A PURPOSE. OF COURSE, THAT  IS TO WRITE THINGS. PLEASE NEVER FORGET WE TOO WERE CREATED FOR A PURPOSE- TO GLORIFY GOD!

NEXT, THE PENCIL WAS PURCHASED FOR A PRICE. NOW, OF COURSE, THAT PRICE USUALLY ISN'T TOO HIGH FOR A COMMON PENCIL, BUT THE PRICE THAT WAS PAID TO PURCHASE US IS IMMEASURABLE. 1PETER 1:18 SAYS WE ARE PURCHASED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

ALSO, EVERY PENCIL HAS A TRADEMARK ON IT. IT SHOWS WHO MADE THE PENCIL. OUR TRADEMARKS, AS CHRISTIANS,SHOULD BE LOVING ONE ANOTHER, FAITHFULNESS, TITHING, HATING SIN, DRESSING GODLY, SACRED MUSIC, ETC. LET THE WORLD SEE WHO OUR CREATOR IS.

ALSO, FOR A PENCIL, IT IS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. A PENCIL IS  PRETTY MUCH USELESS IF NOT FOR THE LEAD THAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF IT. THESE BODIES WE USE TODAY WILL ONE DAY BE LAID DOWN, BUT, PRAISE THE LORD, FOR THE SAVED, TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD! OUR SOULS WILL LIVE FOR ETERNITY. BE SURE YOURS WILL BE IN HEAVEN.

LASTLY, A PENCIL CAN ERASE MISTAKES BY BOWING ITS HEAD LOW. SO WE, AS CHRISTIANS, MAY FALL AND SIN, BUT THE SCRIPTURE STILL READS, IN 1JOHN1:9, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS." YOU MAY SEE SERIOUS "MISTAKES" IN YOUR LIFE, BUT GOD FORGIVES! BOW YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW, CONFESS YOUR SINS, AND GOD WILL ERASE THEM AND YOU CAN START ANEW. 

BY PASTOR TRAVIS BURKE, COZADDALE BAPTIST TEMPLE, GOSHEN , OH.