“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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)
In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul describes the inward condition of the believer who has received God’s righteousness. Paul urges us to live our lives in a way that outwardly reflects our inner state.
When we became believers and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were transformed. We were transformed and changed from our former state much like the way a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
Rather than being conformed to the behaviors and customs of the world around us, we, as Christians, are to be transformed by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. We are to offer and dedicate ourselves entirely, not just our physical body - but our whole person, our body and our mind, to the worship and service of God. This worship is not confined to a Sunday morning worship service; it embraces our entire life.
Yes, we are called to transform from and not conform to the ways of this world. We must distance ourselves from the patterns and priorities of the present age for the sake of the transformation that the gospel provides.
That transformation takes place when we allow the Spirit to work within us. God will accomplish infinitely more than we can ever ask or even imagine (cf. Ephesians 3:20). We will be transformed by the Spirit of the Living God rather than conforming to the ways of a dying world.
As Christians living in a world which is hostile to God, transforming ourselves - renewing our minds and changing the way we think through studying God's Word and prayer - is our only safeguard.
God, our Father, we dedicate ourselves to you entirely through Jesus Christ Your Son, in whose name we pray, Amen. †
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