Do not be conformed

 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 ESV

When I was a teenager I was labeled a non-conformist by my High school principle. He did this because I balked at all authority. Balking at authority is not what Paul is speaking of in this passage. Paul is saying that Christians are not to be conformed to the ways of the world. They are not to indulge in all the sinful ways of the world. As christians we are a called out people. That means to be called out of the world. Not physically, but spiritually called out of the world.

He then goes on to explain we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. As Christians we are being renewed. As we come under the influence of the scriptures and we learn a different way to live, we are renewed in our thinking. Our minds are changed. We will be tested and when we're tested we need to lean on our new understanding of life to help us live in the right way.

The bible tells us all we need to know about what is good, acceptable and perfect in God's sight. When we read the Gospels we see all of these things lived out in the life of Jesus. When we look to the remainder of the New Testament teachings of the Apostles, we find the instructions we need to live this new life out before the world. Everything we need to be transformed is within the pages of our bible. We just need to apply it to our lives.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 ESV

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

Present your bodies as a lving sacrifice

 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. Romans 12:1 ESV

In the above verse Paul is making an appeal to his readers. He wants them to give their bodies, their lives as a sacrifice to God. He wants them to give themselves to God as holy and acceptable. In other words he wants them to be living a holy life before God. Why is he appealing for this? Because their lives are to be worship of God. Paul isn't just speaking about worshipping properly on Sunday morning. No, he is calling his reader to live lives worthy of God at all times.

Paul says to present oneself as a living sacrifice is to give God spiritual worship. In John 4:24 Jesus said: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." ESV. Paul is really supporting what Jesus Himself said. Disciples lives are to be spiritual worship of God and are to be lives lived according to the truth. What is the truth? Jesus also said this; "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6 ESV Jesus is the truth. If Jesus disciples are going to live lives of sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, they must be living Christ like. They must live like Him because His life was one that was sacrificial, holy and acceptable to God.

Paul wants his readers to know that they need to be living Christ for the world to see. Living in a way that God would be pleased with.

The question we have to ask ourselves is this; Am I presenting my body, my life to God as a sacrifice holy and acceptable in His sight? If the answer is no, we need to start living like Jesus. We need to truly become one of His disciples. We need to read the gospel accounts of Jesus and start modeling ourselves after Him. We need to read the rest of the New Testament as well to see what the Apostles taught concerning the Christian life. We need to learn and observe everything that Jesus taught. That is how we will live lies sacrificially, holy and acceptable to God.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman