|
|
Post by Cindy on Dec 6, 2016 10:48:12 GMT -5
“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)
The first eleven chapters of Paul’s letter to the Roman church focused on God’s love and mercy as revealed through his plan of salvation. Paul began the practical portion of his letter by looking at how we should respond to such great compassion. Old Testament sacrifices required a person to bring an animal without blemish to be slaughtered as a picture of payment for sins. Through his death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of the old system; now God calls us to offer a new type of sacrifice: our life.
To live a life that pleases God, we must offer up every area to him—our body, soul, mind, personality, and energy. This means refusing to let our thinking and behavior be shaped by the culture around us, whose standards and values often oppose God’s. Instead, we allow God to transform us from the inside out as our mind is daily renewed through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. As our thinking changes, we begin to desire God’s will above all else.
Our transformed lifestyle will be evident in the way we treat believers and unbelievers alike. We will humbly and enthusiastically use our gifts to serve God and his body, being hospitable and generous with other believers. We will empathize with others in their joy and sorrow. When someone hurts us, we won’t pay them back with evil but will leave vengeance up to God. Instead of being conquered by evil, we will conquer evil with good.
Thankfully, we don’t have to be involved in bloody animal sacrifices, but Paul urges us to participate in a much more demanding kind of worship. Every day God expects us to offer him our personal goals, dreams, and desires in favor of doing his will. It may be difficult to learn to submit, but once we experience being a living sacrifice, we’ll discover we weren’t really living before.
Designed for devotion: A 365-day journey from genesis to revelation.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Dec 6, 2016 10:50:18 GMT -5
Leviticus 1–7
The idea of animal sacrifices may seem repulsive today, but the Israelites were familiar with the concept. At the time, many cultures and religions sacrificed animals to try to please or appease their gods. In contrast, the sacrificial system designed by God held benefits for Israel. The animal’s death reminded the people that there had to be payment for sin. Their obedience to the regulations represented a way for them to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Most importantly, each element of the ritual pictured the perfect Sacrifice who would one day make the final payment for sin.
The first seven chapters of Leviticus describe the five different types of offerings that were sacrificed. The burnt offering atoned for sins in general, while the sin offering covered unintentional sins. A guilt offering paid for a specific sin and included restitution when appropriate. In these offerings involving cattle, sheep, or goats, the person laid his hand on the animal’s head to symbolize his identification with the animal as his substitute. The grain offering acknowledged respect for God and the peace offering expressed gratitude for God’s fellowship.
God demanded that the Israelites obey the rules surrounding the system of sacrifices, but he was more interested in their attitudes. Periodically throughout Israel’s history, God complained that their sacrifices had become nothing more than empty rituals. They made an outward show of devotion but had no heart for living a life of obedience.
God is still displeased when his people go through the motions of worship while lacking a repentant attitude or a desire to serve him. Instead of dead animals, today God calls us to offer him ourselves—body, mind, and soul. Belonging to God means that we continually set aside our personal desires and put all that we have and all that we are at his disposal. Because of Jesus, we don’t need to offer a sacrifice for sin, but out of gratitude we can offer our life back to God.
“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)
Designed for devotion: A 365-day journey from genesis to revelation
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Dec 6, 2016 10:52:27 GMT -5
SERVICE AS WORSHIP
“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)
When many people think of worship, they envision stained–glass windows and pipe organs. But in the Bible, the same word that is used to describe worship also means service.
The greatest worship you ever render to God is to serve Him. For Paul, service meant a total commitment.
Paul wrote to Timothy, “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience” (2 Tim. 1:3). Paul was saying that you could look deep inside him and see that he served God with his entire being. Paul’s service was an act of worship. It was deep, genuine, and honest. That is the real measure of true spirituality. The only way to serve God is with total commitment.
Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Dec 6, 2016 11:01:46 GMT -5
“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 12:2)
One of the first things we have to learn as Christians is not to trust our own thinking or rely on our own instincts. We now have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), & His is the only mind we can rely on. When we are faithful & obedient to our Lord, we will think like Him, act like Him, love like Him, & in every possible way behave like Him, so that “whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him”(1 Thess. 5:10). To demonstrate the transforming nature of regeneration, Paul describes & defines the inherent realities of our new life in Christ. These are not exhortations—they are reminders of what occurred at the moment of conversion. Our salvation also means we will think differently. When you became a Christian, God initially renewed your mind & gave you a completely new spiritual & moral capability. That renewal continues throughout your life as you obey God’s will & His Word (cf. Rom. 12:1–2). This process is not a one-time accomplishment but a continual work of God’s Spirit in you (Titus 3:5). Your resources in this process are always God’s Word & prayer. Through them you gain the mind of Christ (Col. 3:16). The power of integrity
You give Him your mind (v. 2a). The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind (see Eph. 4:17–24; Col. 3:1–11). This word transform is the same as transfigure in Matthew 17:2. It has come into our English language as the word “metamorphosis.” It describes a change from within. The world wants to change your mind, so it exerts pressure from without. But the HS changes your mind by releasing power from within. God transforms our minds & makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it, & making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual (see 2 Cor. 3:18).You give Him your will (v. 2b). Your mind controls your body, & your will controls your mind. Many people think they can control their will by “willpower,” but usually they fail. It is only when we yield the will to God that His power can take over & give us the willpower we need to be victorious Christians. We surrender our wills to God through disciplined prayer. The Bible exposition commentary
Then Paul commanded, But be transformed (pres. passive imper., “keep on being transformed”) by the renewing of your mind. The Greek verb translated “transformed” (“metamorphosis,” a total change from inside out cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). The key to this change is the “mind”, the control center of one’s attitudes, thoughts, feelings, & actions (cf. Eph. 4:22–23). As one’s mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer, & Christian fellowship, his lifestyle keeps on being transformed. Then you will be able to test and approve (“prove by testing” i.e., ascertain) what God’s will is—His good, pleasing (Rom. 12:1), & perfect will. These 3 qualities are not attributes of God’s will as the NIV & some other translations imply. Rather, Paul said that God’s will itself is what is good, well-pleasing (to Him), & perfect. “Good,” for example, is not an adjective (God’s “good” will) but a noun (God’s will is what is good—good, i.e., for each believer). As a Christian is transformed in his mind & is made more like Christ, he comes to approve & desire God’s will, not his own will for his life. Then he discovers that God’s will is what is good for him, that it pleases God, & is complete in every way. It's all he needs. But only by being renewed spiritually can a believer ascertain, do, & enjoy the will of God. The Bible Knowledge commentary
The main contributor to lack of joy is ignorance. If you're growing in Christ, you'll have true spiritual joy. If you live on impulse & subjective feelings, you'll have great difficulty sustaining joy. It’s imperative that you control your emotions, & that can happen only when you fill your mind with sound doctrine, believe it wholeheartedly, & walk by the HS. The world operates on the basis of what feels good. The Lord has a far superior standard for believers (Rom. 12:2). When that's true, we'll respond joyfully & intelligently to all that God has for us. The pillars of Christian character
|
|
!!
