An acceptable Sacrifice (Romans 12)
10:00 PM
Please read: Romans12
The first
approach I had to Romans chapter 12, made me realize there were “some things” I
needed to change to become a better person.
I was in my early 20’s and I had decided I there was more than just
going to church every Sunday. So I
decided that by reading this chapter every single night, I’d get to learn it by
heart and eventually I’d be “magically” transformed. (LOL) The first two verses
were difficult to understand, but the rest were easier to me, so I tried hard
for a few weeks to read and keep up the good works, but over the time I forgot “my
good intentions”. Little did I know our
Heavenly Father did take this seriously and over the years a good friend of
mine ministered to me about God’s plan of Redemption through Jesus’ Perfect Sacrifice on the cross
for “my personal sins”, (Heb. 9:11-22) and
that His salvation is by Grace, not by my efforts or my works!
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Once I
surrendered my life to Jesus, then and only then, and by His Holy Spirit is
when I came to comprehend the meaning of Romans 12:1-2
“(1) Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers
and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of
yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to
God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of
worship”
“(2) And do not be conformed
to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but
be [c]transformed and progressively changed
[as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly
values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the
will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and
purpose for you].”
In the first verse Paul is asking… begging us, to
dedicate ourselves to God, to live a certain way, because of His mercies towards us:
· He has Justified us from
the guilt and penalty of sin (Ro.3:24.)
· He has Adopted us in Jesus
and identified us with Christ (Eph.3:20, Gal.3:26).
· He has Placed us under
grace, not law (Ro.6:14).
· He has given us the Holy
Spirit to dwell in us (1 John 4:13, 2 Cor. 1:22)
· He has Promised us His help
in all affliction (Is. 40:31, Psalm 119:50; Heb. 13:5)
· He has given us the Confidence
of coming glory (1John 1:28); the Confidence of no separation from the love of
God (Ro.8: 31-39) and the Confidence in God’s continued faithfulness! (Deut.7:9, 2 Tim.2:13, 2 Thes.3:3, 1John1:9)
These are just
to list a few of His great Mercies!
In the Old Testament
the sacrifice of an animal was reasonable service, but only for the one
bringing the sacrifice – not for the sacrifice itself. Under the New Covenant
we have far greater mercies, so it is reasonable to offer a far
greater sacrifice. (David Guzik)(Lev.
1:10, Deut. 15:21)
When we dedicate ourselves to God as a “living and
acceptable sacrifice”, we should do it as an act of
intelligent worship… an act of a deliberate decision to yield our entire self to Him.
In Romans 2:2,
we are urged to “not be conformed to this world”, because the thinking of our age is based on
feelings for in this age we are told “that our body must tell the will what to
do; but the Bible says that our will must bring the body as a living sacrifice
to God. The body is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Keeping it at
God’s altar as a living sacrifice keeps the body where it should be.” (David
Guzik)
“The great
enemy to this renewal is conformity to this world .The work of the Holy Ghost
first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections,
and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of
God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to
give up ourselves to God.” (Matthew Henry)
Paul in this second verse explains how we should live out the will of
God:
· Keep in mind the rich mercy
of God to you – past, present, and future (by the mercies of God)
· As an act of intelligent worship, decide
to yield your entire self to Him (present your bodies a living sacrifice)
· Resist
conformity to the thoughts and actions of this world (do not be conformed)
· By focus on God’s word and
fellowship with Him (be transformed by the renewing of your mind)
Then, your life will be in
the will of God. Your life will prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God, only through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, forgive me for forgetting that it’s all about you, and
your Perfect Plans and Purpose in my life. I offer myself as a living sacrifice
to You. Use me as as You WilI. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Blessings,
Mari
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