June 7, 2017 A LIVING SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1-2: “I urge you therefore, 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. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
In our thinking and in our view of life, we tend to divide our life in to two categories-physical and spiritual. We have physical life and we have spiritual life, but the physical life we live is to be a reflection of, or directed by our spiritual life. Scriptures make it abundantly clear that our salvation impacts the whole person-body, soul, and spirit. Throughout the New Testament we find instructions concerning how to live in the physical in such a way that our life becomes a picture, or testimony of what God is like. The world has a system of life that is in opposition to life in the kingdom of God, and unless we are being transformed by the renewing of our mind, we will find ourselves conforming to the world. This renewing of our mind is the key when it comes to being transformed into the image of God. When we allow the mind to ‘run its own course,’ we will find ourselves in a downward spiral spiritually and mentally as well. The renewal of our mind is not just a matter of trying to be more positive in our thinking. To renew the mind is an act of turning our thoughts to the truth that is found only in God’s word. The instruction to renew our mind is based on the assumption that we have at least some knowledge of the truth-the word of God. Thus, if are going to have a renewed mind, it is essential that we spend time reading and taking in the truth we find in the scriptures, and then setting out thought life on that truth. Once our thinking and our beliefs are built on the foundation of God’s word, our actions will be in harmony with God’s word. For example, in God’s word we are told that it is better to give than to receive, and when we give as the Lord directs, we are presenting our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, and we are worshiping God at the same time. And, as we give, we find that it is the will of God, and it is good, acceptable and perfect. If we are being conformed to the world, then we will act out of the mind-set that it is better to get, than to give. So, let us be about taking in the word of God, and then let us keep our minds in a renewed state by keeping our focus the truth of God’s word in order that our bodies will be a living and holy sacrifice.
2 Corinthians 10:5: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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