God has given us great mercy and grace in this new year. As we often do, we say I'm going to do better this year, I'm going to look forward to being better this year. Then we begin to name areas in our lives, in our relationships, on our jobs, and most of all in the Lord where we want to improve. We look at the new year with great enthusiasm. Our hope is in Christ for victory in every area of our lives.
With the anticipation of better things ahead we feel optimistic, charged, we feel like we can do it. But then as it often does, the excitement only lasts so long and motivation alone will not sustain us, effort and discipline are required in order to have a better outcome. Our text today is coming from Romans the 12th chapter. The epistle to the Romans is said to have been written to a church made up predominately of gentiles. In chapter 11 Paul talks about the temporary falling away of Israel through unbelief and God's promise to graft them in again through the same mercy and grace that has been extended to the gentiles. He then admonishes them not to think of themselves as being more than they ought, nor to be wise in their own conceits, because Israel's blindness is temporary until the "fullness of the gentiles be come in." Rm 11:25b In chapter 12 Paul exhorts these same believers to commitment in their service to the Lord. Let us read what it says: "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. 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." Romans 12:1, 2 He says" I beseech you therefore brethren, (beseech in the Greek means to - admonish, exhort, beg, summon) he was calling with passion, those that were brethren or fellow believers in Christ to hear or pay attention to what he was saying. He said to them, "present your bodies a living sacrifice" Present - meaning to yield your body to God. Paul further said that they should be "holy. In the Old Testament, anything once offered to God, was deemed holy. God would only accept sacrifices and offerings based on the guidelines he provided. The ultimate goal of the offering was for it to be acceptable to God. ( Acceptable - meaning in the Greek, to be well pleasing). To those who would ask how that could be done, how could one present himself in a manner that was acceptable to God? Paul tells them that it is through their reasonable service. Reasonable here is pertaining to logic, it is defined as "The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic:" internet bing Paul goes on to be even more specific about how this will be accomplished. He said in verse 2, …"but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, The Greek translation means "To change into another form", Change is defined as to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of: BLB Let us go back to the top of verse 2 briefly to the word Conform, Paul tells them no longer to be conformed to this world. In other words, no longer were they to reflect the ungodly world systems they were once a part of, old reactions, old habits, old way of getting things. No longer were they to respond to situations in unrighteousness. 1 Pet 1:14 says, "…not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." As our minds are transformed by the knowledge of God's word, it is only effective in our lives when we put it into action, we must practice it. The Apostle James warned, that we should not be one who forgets what manner of man we are. He clarifies the correct course of action, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Jm 1:25 The transformation does not just happen, again as stated before, it requires action. Paul used the word beseech, exhorting them and us to action. We must do something, something different from what we have been doing. I would like to encourage us to continue submitting our bodies ie our will, desires, habits, choices, relationships and our response to God's word daily. Eph 4:24 says: " And that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And again he said to the Colossians, "And put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him". Col 3:10 We will get better, we will succeed as we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."2 Pet 3:18. We must rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit to direct us in to his ways. Let us pray; Dear Lord we come to you as humbly as we know how. We praise you for this day that you have given to us, help us make the most of it. We look to you Father because you know us, and you know what is best for us. Your word says in Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the LORD,". Our comfort is in trusting you to help us in this journey, to live each day under your authority. Grant us O Lord to grow in the grace and knowledge of your word by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Help us to put your will for us into action to achieve the goals you've placed in our hearts to accomplish and that it be for your glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen! Please share your thoughts with us about your visit, or let us know if you would like us to pray for you.
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