What is reasonable?
I keep running into the word “reasonable” paired with different things, one of which is the idea of expectations. Since I taught Dickens’ Great Expectations for so long, maybe the pairing of reasonable with expectations makes me take notice—especially when I consider this generation I teach, many who think any and every thing they are asked to do that requires effort is un reasonable—and heaven forbid anyone have “great” expectations of them. Enough ranting . . . so, if the average person today questions reasonable, what are we as Christians supposed to do with Paul’s exhortation found in Romans 12:1? Here Paul urges his Christian brothers and sisters to intentionally present themselves as living sacrifices: I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, whi
