After finishing his discussion on God's plan for the Jews, Paul began speaking on how believers should live in light of what God has done for them.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
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.
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.
Because of God's great mercies, Paul begged his readers to present their bodies to God as living sacrifices, which were to be set apart and acceptable to God (verse 1). This is the believers' reasonable service. After all that God has done, believers should feel a duty and loyalty to Him.
How can believers do this? By not being conformed to the world and its standards, but by being transformed by the renewing of the mind (verse 2). As God works in the hearts and lives of His people, they are no longer the same. They are new creatures.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Then in the renewing of their minds, believers will come to know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
However, let's be honest. Do believers today exemplify this exhortation from Paul? The answer is probably not. Certainly, there are some who have taken Paul's plea to heart, but often it seems that the majority looks to the world rather than to God. Has God been replaced by the love of money, power, the latest technology, or pleasure? Have believers yielded their entire bodies, personalities, desires, etc. to God's transforming power, or are they adhering to exalting themselves? Has God swept out all the recesses and nooks in their minds and filled them with the desire for His will, or are they holding back parts of themselves?
Let's commit to truly becoming living sacrifices and let the renewing begin!
Let us commit to being a living sacrifice and let the renewing begin. Sorry I fell behind in my reading. I will try to do better and keep up. Keep up the good work. I love your lessons. Amen.
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KW
Thank you Kingdom Worker for your encouragement! I have to say that I have definitely benefited from your posts as well! Love it when we can help each other grow in our faith!
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