It’s easier to just “read” the Bible than let it mess with you.

But mess with me it did when my personal Bible study time confronted me with Romans 12. In verse one, Paul urges us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

“Holy and acceptable to God.” That phrase began to rumble…then rattle…then really unsettle me!

The more I pondered that phrase, the more conviction it whispered. This one little verse commands an all-encompassing lifestyle. One that—quite frankly—mine doesn’t always resemble.

Before the Holy Spirit had concluded His (uncomfortable) spiritual checkup, I came up with a list of 20 questions for more profound self-examination.

 Dare to take this spiritual checkup yourself? Here are the questions:

1. Is the thought I am thinking holy and acceptable to God?
2. Is my conversation holy and acceptable to God?
3. Is my work/life balance holy and acceptable to God?
4. Is my treatment of the opposite sex holy and acceptable to God?
5. Is my spending and saving holy and acceptable to God?
6. Is my eating and drinking holy and acceptable to God?
7. Is my web surfing holy and acceptable to God?
8. Is my life’s dream holy and acceptable to God?
9. Is my prayer life holy and acceptable to God?
10. Is the novel I am reading holy and acceptable to God?
11. Is my concern for lost people holy and acceptable to God?
12. Is the way I treat my spouse holy and acceptable to God?
13. Is my time in the Word holy and acceptable to God?
14. Is my charitable giving holy and acceptable to God?
15. Is my work ethic holy and acceptable to God?
16. Is my favorite TV show holy and acceptable to God?
17. Is my commitment to memorize Scripture holy and acceptable to God?
18. Is my standard of dress holy and acceptable to God?
19. Is my attendance and involvement at church holy and acceptable to God?
20. Is there much about my life others would describe as a living sacrifice—and thus pleasing to God?

Lord, our lives are short.

Eternity is long.

Help us prepare for then—by living better now.

Help us live lives that are holy and acceptable to you.

Amen!