July 26, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Exodus and Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 12 (NIV)
A Living Sacrifice
1 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 your true and proper worship. 2 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.……Continue Reading
We as believers are to be living in such away that Christ is honored in our bodies and our minds. We are to put the needs of others before ourselves. Also not to think of ourselves too highly but to have a humble spirit toward others. Remember who we are in Christ and that we all have a gift in the body and are to use it to help each other. Romans 12:1,2 {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.} Tomorrow when we go into Exodus 29; we will be discussing the consecrating of the priests. But remember brothers and sisters in Christ we are also priests once we came to Christ. 1 Peter 2:9,10 {But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.} What wonderful words of God we have here. Praise His Holy Name! Also want to thank Pastor for giving us Dennis and Wendy’s number. And for Dennis and Wendy coming over right away to fix our water tank problem. Thanks Dennis for your hard work and now we have water. God bless.
So much in life and living for Christ has to do with what you think and managing your mind.
”And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your MIND, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.“
Romans 12:2 NKJV
”For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK, but to THINK soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.“
Romans 12:3 NKJV
”Be of the same MIND toward one another. Do not set your MIND on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.“
Romans 12:16 NKJV
Romans 12
“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 your true and proper worship. 2 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.” (Romans 12:1-3 NIV)
○ Give God our bodies as a living sacrifice
○ Give God our minds for renewal
○ As a result, we’ll be able to know what God’s will is
This reminds me of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. “
Romans 12…so much to dwell on here, even just the first two verses. So good.
What a great chapter in Scripture! God’s mercy gives plenty of motivation to offer ourselves to God in service to Him. It is the only logical conclusion to come to when we see a God who is so good to us. And when we renew our minds through the word, we will be able to tell what God’s will is….a will the is good, pleasing and perfect. And I couldn’t help but think as Paul follows this instruction with all these commands and mindsets, that this is part off the way we should sacrifice ourselves. Let us all be zealous to be the people God wants us to be in our hearts and how we function in our relationships. We do have to recognize at times though, as much as we would want relationship with people and pursue reconciliation, sometimes it isn’t possible and sometimes others don’t want it. How comforting that God gives us an out and helps us realize we can only do what we can, but the other side of relationship requires the other party to participation. And remember, we cannot bear the scrutiny of someone who is not guided by God’s Word and filled with the Spirit. Because evil people will spew all kinds of evil against us, but we don’t have to be burdened by their assessment, but continue to love them as God enables.
Romans 12
Romans 12
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. Keep our minds from focusing on worldly ways with its distractions and limitations. Instead, know this – we can do all things through Christ. And we can know what God’s will is, so moving in that direction will give us purpose and fulfillment. Filling in the emptiness of our lives with joy, love and hope.
Just as we read in Exodus about each part of His tabernacle was distinct in its appearance and function so are we today all part of the church woven together to form one body. Every part special with different talents all given by God to play their role for the one sole purpose of bringing glory to God through serving and loving others and spreading the word of God to all who need to hear.
We are not made special with special talents and gifts to pat ourselves on the back and feel prideful but rather realize we are stewards of what He blesses us with to then be a living sacrifice using it to do His work.