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."
Do you realize that GOD has a plan and a purpose for your life right now ? Do you want to know and do HIS will ? Many claim to desire GOD's will for their life but seem to have trouble perceiving it and then doing it. However, today text tells us how we can know the very will of GOD. To discern GOD's will requires three acts of our will that can be summed up in one word -- commitment. To commit to something means arriving at the place in life where we realize our need to take action and then determinedly resolving, with GOD's help, to do whatever must be done.
Why should we want to know and do the will of GOD ? Romans 12:1-2 gives us two reasons why we should seek to discern and fulfill GOD's will. First, we should desire to accomplish the will of GOD because Paul "beseech[es]" us to do so. The word "beseech" in today's text denotes the idea of coming alongside a person and exhorting him to take action. The LORD is not harshly and abrasively commanding us to know and do HIS will. Rather, HE lovingly encourages and exhorts us to desire to honor and obey HIM. Second, we should want to know and accomplish GOD's will as a result of HIS mercy and goodness to us. Paul beseeches us "therefore (because of what I have previously told you) by the mercies of GOD. . ." The motivation for our commitment and yieldedness to GOD lies in that which HE has done for us. Romans 1-11 details GOD's great mercies. Paul writes a grand doxology in Romans 11:33-36 (pictured above) that leads into today's text, a passage urging us to take action -- to commit. The greater our understanding is of what the LORD has done for us, the greater our commitment to HIM will be.
Yieldedness - Part 1
We must seek to know GOD's will for our life, and do it because GOD exhorts us to do so and because HE has bestowed innumerable mercies upon each of us (v.1a). But how, exactly, can we understand GOD's will and accomplish it ? According to the Scriptures, we can know and fulfill the will of GOD by doing three things that involve our unreserved commitment. First, we must surrender to the LORD by giving ourselves wholly (entirely) to HIM. In other words, we must yield our life to HIM (v.1b). Being submitted to the LORD is crucial if we are to know and do HIS will.
In today's text, the word "present" means "to place beside"; it alludes to the Old Testament sacrifices in which the priests tied up the lamb beside the altar prior to the time of sacrifice. Within these two verses we discover the characteristics of our sacrifice to GOD. First, this sacrifice must be alive: We are a "living sacrifice." We have already been "crucified with CHRIST," but now we live (Galatians 2:20 pictured above). Our sacrifice to GOD is our life on this earth. Second, the sacrifice must be "holy," that is, set apart and undefiled in order to be used by GOD. In the Old Testament, the lamb had to be free of any blemish, just as all who have trusted in JESUS are, in the eyes of GOD, clothed in the righteousness of CHRIST. We must be sanctified in order to be yielded to GOD, Finally, the sacrifice must be "acceptable," that is, well-pleasing. Are you living in a manner that pleases GOD ? Robert Haldane wrote, "GOD approves of nothing but obedience to HIS own commands." How true ! We yield our bodies to GOD by being a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice. Are you allowing the SAVIOR to use you as HE sees fit ?
Yieldedness - Part 2
In order to know and do the LORD's will, we must first commit our body as a living sacrifice to our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. The characteristics of a yielded sacrifice are clearly spelled out in the two verses of our text -- we are to be living, holy, and acceptable. We cannot claim that we are accomplishing the will of GOD if our life is inconsistent or at odds with the holy and righteous character of the LORD.
Today's text not only describes the characteristics of a yielded sacrifice, but it also reveals the extent of this sacrifice. The Apostle Paul writes, "I beseech you therefore, brethren. . .that ye present your bodies. . ." Clearly, the scope of our sacrifice to GOD is to encompass our entire body. The LORD desires to utilize every aspect of our life !
The Body is the encasement of our total person. It involves every physical part as well as our immaterial parts (soul and spirit). It is foolish for any of us to feel as though we can yield part of our self to GOD and allow other components to be controlled by the flesh. No, this bodily commitment is total and "reasonable" (v.1). Halfway commitment is an illogical concept. Elsewhere in Scripture, JESUS CHRIST reminds us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24 pictured above). Either we are wholly committed to GOD and yielded to HIM, "which is [our] reasonable (logical) service," or we are wholly committed and yielded to someone or something else. No middle ground exists ! JESUS provided us with a full, complete salvation when HE gave HIS life on the cross of Calvary. Likewise, HE promises eternal security in HIM and everlasting life. HE has given all of HIMSELF for us. How could we give our LORD any less in return ?
Nonconformity
The Bible states that we should desire to know GOD's will for our life and commit to glorifying our LORD by fulfilling HIS will. Today's text explains how we can know and accomplish GOD's will. First, we must yield our whole self to HIM as a living sacrifice. Second, we must refuse to identify with the world system in which we now live. Separation from worldliness is essential if we are to discern GOD's will and do it. The Apostle Paul specifically commands us, "Be not conformed to this world" (v.2); in other words, we must not be marked by the characteristics of this world by fashioning ourselves according to the spirit of the age (1st.Peter 1:14 pictured above). As Christians, we must commit to being different from the unsaved. Our lifestyle, our philosophy, our worldview, and our conduct must be distinct from that of the unbelieving world.
The Greek root that underlies the word "conformed" in this text is schema from which we get our English word scheme. It entails a conformation that is external, having no connection with the inner essence. To "conform" in this sense, is to outwardly act in a manner that does not reflect the inner man. This imperative in verse two requires that we, as Christians, refuse to be marked by the characteristics of this age -- on the outside as well as the inside ! The LORD has saved us and delivered us from this world system (Galatians 1:3-4 pictured above). Why, then, would we want to fit in with that from which we have been delivered ? We must not live as "chameleon Christians." The world is not to be our model for Christian living or ministry. If we truly desire to know and do the will of GOD, we must yield our life to the LORD and separate from the spirit of this age.
Transformation
Today's text not only exhorts us to know the will of GOD for our life, but it also tells us how to understand and accomplish HIS will. First, we must be yielded to our SAVIOR as a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice. Second, we must be separated from worldliness. We can never truly glorify GOD if we are living and thinking like the world. Finally, we must be "transformed" in order to know and do GOD's will. When we are transformed by renewed thinking (that is, we put on the mind of CHRIST), then we will be able to determine GOD's will for our life and do that which pleases HIM.
The Apostle Paul exhorts, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (v.2). Transformation is a change of the inner man. It means we possess a new thought process -- a new mind. We often do not realize the extent to which sin offends a Holy GOD and how far our mind truly is from the mind of CHRIST. When we transform our inner man by changing the way we think, we put on the mind of CHRIST and begin to think and act as the LORD would have us to think and act. This "renewing" occurs in our life when we allow GOD's SPIRIT to change us (2nd.Corinthians 3:18 pictured above) as we are yielded and separated; the HOLY SPIRIT takes the WORD Of GOD and appropriates it to our life.
Have you surrendered to the LORD by consciously refusing to be conformed to the world system and by humbly putting on the mind of JESUS CHRIST ? Only when we are yielded, separated, and transformed can we both know and do the will of GOD as we remove our ambitions from the equation (v.2c). Let us unreservedly present our life to the LORD that we may "prove" (determine) what is "the perfect will of GOD." MDC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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