And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Have you ever met someone who was not a nice person? You truly did struggle with how this person treated others? Then you saw this person later on in life and this person has made a decision to live for God, and they have changed for the better? Did you ever think this was possible? I have! It amazes me how God can change a person. Or are you this person?
There is actually a person in the Bible who was like this. He persecuted Christians. Then he had a transformation on the road. Have you figured who I talking about? If you guessed Saul/Paul you are correct. You can go to Acts 9 to learn more about his transformation. The “old Paul” was a pharisee, a rule follower, and a persecutor of those who followed Christ. Then one day Jesus met him through a bright light that blinded him and he became a faithful follower of Christ.
Years later, Paul is urging the Roman church to live change lives. Paul encouraged then to let God transform them into a new person by changing the way they thought. Guess what! This also goes for us today. We need to let God transform our lives. To live as a new person by changing the way we think.
How do we do this? First, we give our bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifices – the kind he will find acceptable. Next, we do not conform to this world. Third, we are transformed by the renewing of their minds.
Paul used to follow Jewish law, where he would have to make animal sacrifices. When he chose to follow Christ, he realized that Jesus made the final sacrifice. He didn’t have to do that anymore. Paul did say that we can worship God by dying to ourselves. We can put our bodies on the altar and yield to His ways over our own. Some examples are choosing to pray every day rather than watching t.v., forgiving when we want revenge, or giving to others when we feel like buying things for ourselves. Worship isn’t just a Sunday event; it is an everyday event. This requires sacrifice.
Are you ready and willing to make this sacrifice for God?
Join me tomorrow for more on this subject!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being a good good father to each of us. God pray that we will be more transform by you each day.
In Jesus Name
Amen
