Romans 12:1-2 New Living Translation
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,
in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Paul was urging the Roman Christians to make their
own bodies a living offering to God. To urge is to earnestly recommend or
encourage one to do something. It is a statement that is being made with
sincere and intense conviction. The sacrificial system in place in the Old
Testament and even in the new with the Pharisees and Sadducees (religious
leaders in Jesus’ day) involved using animals without flaw. They were cut up
and placed on an altar and consumed with fire to atone for sin. Paul is speaking of a living
sacrifice; an individual who is in tune with those things that are pleasing to
God.
Holy living is a foreign
concept to most people in this day and age. We stand as sanctified and holy in
the eyes of God due to our acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at
Calvary; however, his desire for us is to live a life that is set apart for His
use. We are to do that which lines up
with His word and thus is pleasing in his sight. Many times, in the interest of
comfort or convenience, we make God an afterthought. We know what we should do but hesitate
because it would make our lives a little more complicated.
The world has one way of
doing things and God any quite another. The renewing of our minds comes from
reading His word, not reading into it what we want it to say, but reading it
with an open heart and mind. It’s a good
thing to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts regarding that which God
wants us to know. Putting God’s word
into practice requires being obedient to that which we know we’re being asked
to do. The compassion and understanding
of God is limitless; however, there comes a time in each believer’s life when
they must allow themselves to be fully transformed by God. In light of his
incredible mercy it’s truly the least we can do. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
Resource:
The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.
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