Scripture
Romans 12:1-2
“12 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. 2 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.” NIV
Devotional Message/Meditation
In verse 2, of Romans 12, Paul advises his reader “to not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Paul, further states, as a result of “being transformed by the renewing of your mind,” “Then (and only then) you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Paul is suggesting that our “ability” to “test God’s will, His good, pleasing and perfect will”- is based on a transformed renewing of the believer’s mind. What we know in our mind to be true can form a conviction in our heart to validate that truth. And, that conviction in our heart can translate into our actions. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). As mentioned, Paul points his reader to the fact that there is an important benefit in the “renewing of our minds”. Just like resetting your computer’s hard drive, I now make the comparison to the “renewing of our minds,” by using the phrase “reset your thinking.” The idea of “reset” is to start fresh. It is to clear your mind from old habits, old beliefs, old customs, negative thoughts, negative vocabulary, negative relationships, and all forms of negativity. As Christians we must intentionally renew our minds with God’s word and fellowship with Him. Paul begins verse 1 of chapter 12 in the book of Romans by urging Christian believers to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Christ is our model for how we should present ourselves to God – holy and pleasing to God. Christ was the perfect living sacrifice for us.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we come before your presence with thanks. We thank you for your grace and mercy and how you kept us all day long. In spite of ourselves you saw fit to give us another chance to get it right and for that we say, “thank you”. Continue to be a hedge of protection around us. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, be a friend for those who may feel lonely, give them the assurance of your love. Help us keep your word in our hearts. We don’t know how long this journey will be, but we trust you to be with us on the journey. Amen.
Call to Action
Paul gives us a context for which we should present ourselves to God, and he provides instruction not to be conformed to the pattern of this world. Paul says this important point with the bases of saying “in view of God’s mercy” we are to do these things. In this Lenten Season when you reflect upon the Cross and the fact that Christ went to the Cross for your sins, “in view of God’s mercy,” What sacrifice will you make for Him? Commit yourself to being the best you can be in this Lenten Season.