From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Present your present in the present

The English language, at least in its "Americanized" form can be very confusing at times.  The above title is one example of that.  One spelling, with different pronunciations and several different meanings, 10 of which I give here; or, should I say, "I present here!?"

[prez-uhnt] 1. being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current: the present ruler.  2. being here: Is everyone present?  3. the present time.

[v. pri-zent; n. prez-uhnt]
1. to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal or ceremonious way: to present one's card.
2. to introduce (a person) to another, esp. in a formal manner: Mrs. Smith, may I present Mr. Jones?  3. to direct, point, or turn (something) to something or someone: He presented his back to the audience.  4. a thing presented as a gift; gift: Christmas presents.  5. To attach (an antigen, for example) on the surface of a molecule for detection by other molecules.  6. To offer to a legislature or court for consideration.  7. To manifest as a part of a disease or medical condition.
 
 

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  (Romans 6:11-14 NKJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

The word translated as present ("yield" in some translations) is the Greek word "paristemi" which means "to present, to offer up, a technical term used of the Jewish high priest's offering up, as a gift, the offerings to God.  In our usages it is in the present tense, indicating the command "do it now!"  Therefore my title, present your present in the present.  We are to offer up our present, presenting it to God, and do it in the present.  We are to offer up our bodies to God for His service, right now.  God is not commanding this for His benefit, but our own.  As our verses from Romans 6 tell us, it is one of the steps toward our avoiding sin.  As we reckon that we are no longer "alive" to sin, we are to take the further step of giving ourselves to God, for His use.  Both steps acknowledge we no longer belong to ourselves, but to God.  Therefore, we won't yield to sin, because it can't have affect on something that is dead and doesn't even belong to us anymore.

Won't you consider and reckon it to be true that you died with Christ, and then present the present of your body to God?  Do it now, in the present!  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV)

Ben

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