Becky Austin

Genuine Love is Transforming! (Romans 12)

12:30 PM




Our Scripture Reading: Romans 12

Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day when many gather with friends and family to enjoy a meal, companionship, and hopefully reflect upon the blessings of life they can be thankful for. It reminds me of the early church gatherings, where those who wanted to grow in Christ gathered in small groups within someone’s home to eat together, share life together, and grow together spiritually. 

Perhaps you don’t have your physical family close this season. Don’t let that deter you from knowing that you belong to a bigger family. Once you accept Christ, you are adopted into a huge spiritual family. It’s part of God’s plan for you to grow within relationships and not in isolation. Relationships are where we get to practice what we learn in His Word and allow God to mold our hearts to reflect the attributes of Christ.

God wants to transform us and He wants us to be a vital part of the body of Christ. In fellowship with like minded believers, we are encouraged, challenged, and loved. I gather with a small group each week and it is amazing to study God’s Word together, and to share and discuss how to put spiritual truths to work in “real life”. 
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

In Romans 12, we are given examples of what a transformed life starts to look like. I think the key to it all is in verse 9: LET LOVE BE GENUINE!
I don’t think that we can achieve genuine love on our own. This is the kind of love that only God can instill in the depths of our being. It’s a process of yielding to Him, denying our selfish motivations, and learning to be grateful for what we have as well as how to be genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of others. 

These are the attributes that stood out to me:
-“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
   Romans 12:10
-“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
   Romans 12:12
-“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
   Romans 12:13
-“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
   Romans 12:14
-“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
   Romans 12:15

An interesting observation, is that so much of what God asks of us in attitude and thought involves how we view and interact with others. Even with just these few, there’s a lot of room for God to do some major transformation work in my heart. It’s a work I must allow Him to do. My part is to seek Him, and yield to Him daily as He convicts me and whispers to me throughout the day. 

What about you?  What stood out to you in this chapter? Are you in fellowship with other Christians who can help you in your spiritual journey? Are you renewing your mind by studying and applying God’s Word to daily life? Are you yielding to His Spirit as He teaches you about genuine love? Remember, It’s not about “What” we do.  It’s about the transformed heart that motivates us to action. It’s about genuine love.

Happy Thanksgiving today and everyday!


1 John 4:13

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

Hiding God's Word in our Heart

Scripture Saturday ~ Romans 12:1 ~ Sacrifice ~ Pleasing Him

12:00 AM


Saturday, September 14, 2019


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Romans 12:1..

 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. (NIV)

 It is a challenging world we live in…let’s face it…it is a me-first world. People focus their entire being on how they can get the most out of THIS life, how much they can accumulate, how much “fun” they can have, how little they can give, but how much they can get.  But Paul puts it pretty plainly to US in this verse. As followers of Christ, as His children, we are to offer our entire bodies - offer ourselves, our hearts, our minds, our wills, and yes our bodies - as a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” 

 In the old testament animal sacrifices were given to cleanse a people or person from sin, and the animals went unknowingly, and I am sure sometimes unwilling. BUT NO LONGER!  We sacrifice ourselves knowing exactly what we are doing and we do so willingly. When we worship we give up our entire beings. When we worship it’s an all-encompassing, all-engaging, all-consuming sacrifice to our God for what His Son did for us - for He gave us His all.

 Here is message from John Piper I found when researching…I pray it edifies and blesses you.

 https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/present-your-bodies-as-a-living-sacrifice-to-god







Becky Austin

Let Good Persevere (Romans 12)

3:40 AM





The early church lived in perilous times. They faced the very real trials of potential persecution, imprisonment, and even death to live out their beliefs. But, in Romans, they are encouraged to persevere through such uncertain times and worship God by committing their very lives wholeheartedly. 

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (12:1-2)

To persevere in trying circumstances is no easy task but Paul gives us 3 vital keys.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (12:12)

Our greatest witness to the world can be in how we respond to difficulty and adversity.  How we respond to others can be a great opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ. If Christ reached out to us in our sin and despair, shouldn’t we extend His love to others who also desperately need it? Our wounded human instincts may cause us to want to avoid others, reject or retaliate against their behaviors, but each person we interact with needs to see Jesus through our responses to them. 

Persevering includes extending grace to others and representing Christ in every opportunity.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  (12:15-18)

Not every person is easy to extend love to. Not every person is easy to be kind to.  We must be patient and pray for Gods help to love others as He asks us to. When others “push our buttons”, “try our patience”, and “get on our last nerve”, we must remember that there is a spiritual war at stake. We must persevere to seek God’s wisdom in knowing how to respond. We must not repay evil with evil. 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (12:21)