A Life Presented to God - Part 4

“…so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2c

As we are continually being made new in the attitude of our minds (Eph. 4:23) we come to the place where we can ascertain what the will of God is. This is a very important aspect of our transformation, because as we grow we need to know what God desires of us to, which isn’t always explicitly said in His Word. Therefore, living opposed to the world’s culture and understanding God’s mercy by offering our bodies as living sacrifices produces knowing and doing the will of God. (A very profitable lifestyle.)

At this point in the passage there becomes a very simple explanation. Pursue God and in pursuing God He will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6) by reveavling Himself, His Word, and His ways to you. As we continue to pursue the Lord we become more atuned to His will. It’s as if we have an antenna and as we run after God the picture becomes more and more clear. Then we are able to say, “Oh, I understand God! (As far as we can humanly, that is.) Your ways really do work and are perfect.” And the more we see the clear picture, the more we trust in God and see experientally that His ways are perfect. The best part of it is that as we continue along our hearts are changed, we are transformed as we stare at the face of Christ.

Reflect with me today on your pursuit of Christ. Ask yourself, “Do I struggle with knowing what God’s will for me is?” If yes, then ask the Lord, “Why?” Is it unbelief? Rebellion? Fear? Whatever it is confess it before Him today.

If you answered no, ask the Lord, “What areas have I struggled with in pursuing You—letting You rule and reign as Lord?” As He answers, confess those as well. Then pursue God wholeheartedly offering yourself to him as a living sacrifice as you live a life unconformed to the pattern of this world.

Take heart and be encouraged,
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

A Life Presented to God – Part 3

“…but be transformed by the renewing of your ming…” Romans 12:2b

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It’s much easier for a transformation to occur when you’ve already made that decisive decision to give yourself wholly unto God and have begun to adjust the attitude of your mind to withstand the life of the world. Still transformation is not easy per se, but the groundwork has been laid for a firm foundation.

In the text the word “mind” also includes the heart, and in view of the fact that the Bible says our heart is deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9) we should heed the transformation of both. One quick word on transformation, though before we get too far ahead. Transformation is not a quick fix for sanctification. You don’t get saved and are immediately transformed into the image of Christ, you are imputed the righteousness of Christ, but there is still much work to be done. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process of faith that trusts (relies on God) and commits to putting our flesh to death. It’s not always fun either. Transformatino usually doesn’t occur on the mountaintop, though it can. The renewal of our heart and mind is a continual process. If we understand that we will keep the temptation of despair at bay.

Let’s take a minute to review,
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
A life that grasps how God’s mercy works is a life that is diametrically opposed, a nonconformist, to the world’s customs and ideas. So, now we are at the renewal of our minds. As we view God’s mercy, by consecrating ourself to Him, and begin to align our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to His we develop a new affection and our life changes. The commands of the Lord are no longer a burden to us (1 Jn. 5:3) and we delight in His laws, which are better than gold and sweeter than honey (Ps. 19:7-10). We have aligned ourself with the word that says,
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20, NASB).

As our minds are being reformed our perspective changes. God wants us to have such an affection for His commands that it becomes second nature, that we don’t even pause or question our choices or what He says. That is what the continual transforming of our heart and mind will produce in us. God will do the work in us, we must be willing.

Ask the Lord today, “What part of my life am I unwilling to change?”

Remember transformation comes with humility and humility comes with repentance, so set your heart open before God listening to what he speaks to your heart, then follow Him.

A Life Presented to God - Part 2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2, NASB

In the beginning of Romans 12 these two verses call us to live a life that is diametrically opposed to this world. That is a life that grasps the mercy of God and lives thus so. What does a life that is opposed to this world and grasps the mercy of God look like? It is a life that is living unconformed to this day and age, but continually being transformed.

§ NLT, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world”
§ NIV, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”
§ AMP, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs]”
§ NASB, “And do not be conformed to this world”
§ The Message, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.”

To be conformed is to “comply with rules or standards; be similar in form or type” (OED 183). If our life complies with the standards of this world and we look (or live) similarly to the worldly way of life then it’s time to stop and reflect on our personal life asking the Lord, “What needs to change?” Because if we could transplant our life in the world’s system and it doesn’t look any different than the next worldly person, then we’re in trouble! We’re called to be salt, light, and to abide in Christ’s teaching, if we look just like the world then we’re not living (doing) something right.

Look at the translation of the verses:

§ Don’t copy the customs and behavior of this world
§ Don’t conform [comply with, be similar to] to the pattern of the world
§ Don’t fashion your life after or adapt its external and superficial ways
§ Don’t be so well-adjusted to the culture that there’s a seamless fit.

It’s very clear that we are to live diametrically, completely opposite, to this world. It’s vital that we remember who has authority over the earth, the prince of darkness. If we align ourselves and life with the world’s culture, we are also aligning ourselves up with the culture and kingdom of Satan—the exact opposite of what we say we desire as Christ followers!

It’s a time for reflection for all of us. There’s not a person alive on this earth that is living completely by God’s kingdom principles where every aspect of their life is opposed to the world, so humbly yourself to God with me as we reflect and ask the Lord, “What in my life complies with the world?” Wait on Him and listen to what he says, then repent.

A Life Presented to God: Romans 12:1-2

We started out on Monday's post looking at the parallel theme in 1, 2, and 3 John that we, as Christians, are called to live a life that is very different from the rest of the world. Over the next week or so we'll be delving into Romans 12:1-2 and looking at what it says and what it calls us to as believers. I've been enjoying studying this passage and the fullness of the Word, and I hope you'll join me in it!

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Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual

service of worship.

The theme here in Romans 12:1 is that we are urged in light of God's mercy to view our bodies as living sacrifices. Paul is appealing to the body of Christ in the dedication of our lives as believers to heed what he is about to say. He calls us to present our bodies to God as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God." Paul speaks of this idea elsewhere as well, in 1 Corinthians 6:20 he writes, "You were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body." Paul is reminding us that we are no longer our own. We no longer have dominion over our own body or life, Christ's death on the cross bought us. We are now redeemed children of grace, thus our bodies are not our own, but God's to use and dwell in. This urging also reminds us that we are to submit ourselves to God (Ja. 4:7). Ultimately, if we are presenting our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices that is submission. Offering yourself to God is not only a spiritual act of worship, as the verse tells us later, but it is also a sign of submission. When we submit to God (or anyone else for that matter) is shows that we trust and obey God, and is our offering to him.

We offer ourselves to God since He has shown us such great mercy. As I was studying, I came across a different translation of this verse and it was just so wonderful to me, "When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?" (NLT) I think that hits it on the head. So often we can come up with excuses, mostly without even being conciously aware, of why we shouldn't or can't fully give ourselves to God. That's why I love this translation, When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?" Seriously, is it too much for God to ask for our complete dedication when he gave up His Son for us? Now, how can anyone answer, "Yes, it is too much to ask!" Who would even be so bold? It's a humbling question that our hearts already know the answer. Offering our self to God is not only an act of spiritual worship or submission, but it is giving Him what is rightfully His, "You are not your own [...] You were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body" (1 Cor. 6:19b-20).

We must make a "decisive decision" (Ryrie 1744) or a "decisive dedication" (AMP 1314) to give ourselves as living sacrifices (as opposed to the dead animal sacrifices of the Old Testament) to the Lord. Our sacrifice is to be "living and holy" (NASB) and "devoted, consecrated" (AMP). We can't go this way or that, or one day decide to be sold out for Christ and the next trying to buy back our life. Lukewarm is not a safe place to be, although we often think it is. When we offere ourselves to God we make a decision of how we are going to live our life, either as those who know God and abide in His teaching by doing the good He says or we could not abide in the teaching of Christ, continue to do evil and thus not know God. Our decision is this, "and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Ro. 6:13, NASB).

We are to offer ourselves to God "as those who have been brought from death to life" (Ro. 6:13, NIV) and offering our bodies as "instruments of righteousness for God" (Ro. 6:13, NASB). This offering our bodies to God in view of His mercy is "holy and pleasing" (NIV), "acceptable" (NASB), "the kind He will accept" (NLT), and "well pleasing" (AMP) to God. Our offering, dedication, decisive decision or dedication, devotion, or consecration is our "reasonable (rational, intelligent) service" (AMP). It is a deliberate choice to offer our self to God. This is the beginning of what our life presented to God looks like. It starts with a correct understanding of grace. We didn't earn it and we were bought by the price of the cross, thus we have made a decision of how we are going to live our life, consecrated to the One True God.