Do Not Conform To The Pattern Of This World, But Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind
Put On The Nature Of Christ
ROMANS 12:1-2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
”Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/rom.12.1-2.nkj
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God wants us to present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; to deny one’s self, pick up his cross and follow Jesus (MATHEW 16:24-26; LUKE 9:23).
That is to say, rather than chasing one’s own plans, goals, and the lust of the flesh, he must commit his or her life to serving God, even at great cost, in obedience to His word, for this is the least one can do.
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
I Corinthians 6:20 NKJV
Do not be conformed to this world is to say, don’t join unbelievers in the sinful ways of the world.
Jesus paid a high price to pay the debt we accrued for our sin, both past and future, but that doesn’t mean we can continue to live in sin.
We must repent, that is to turn from sin and seek God’s righteousness and walk in it.
As committed mature Christians, repentance should not be because we deliberately sinned, but rather just in case we made a mistake.
Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.””
II Corinthians 6:17-18 NKJV
It is when one makes every effort to be right with God, He will start the work of not just fixing or repairing, but renewing, transforming him into the likeness of Christ (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18), and he shall come to understand what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
That is to hear God’s voice, His instructions, and discern His perfect plan for one’s life and eternal future.
He told us through the profit Jeremiah that He has a wonderful future planned for His people, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
God has the perfect plan for your life, and you cannot better it. He knows you better than you know yourself in the finest detail to the number if hairs of one’s head. Furthermore, His love for His people is above all the creatures of the earth. He individually created all people before they was in their mothers womb (JEREMIAH 1:4-5) and has the perfect plan for each of us. Furthermore, He gifted us individually to serve Him within the body of Christ (1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31), to operate the whole body (the church) through the five fold ministry of Christ, of which all God’s people fall into at least one category of Apostles, Prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelist (EPHESIANS 4:11).
Church was never meant to operate by the leading of one Pastor, vicar, or minister, but rather through the whole body by the leading of Jesus Christ, the head (EPHESIANS 4:15).
The foot isn’t instructed by the eye, nor hand by the arm. But all the parts of the body are individually taught and instructed by the head.
The Apostle is to birth and oversee, the Prophet is tell us what’s coming; God always tells His plans before He acts (AMOS 3:7-8); the teacher is to teach, the Pastor is to host and shepherd, and the evangelist is to reach out to the lost, and all are to operate by the leading of the Holy Spirit of which is Christ who is the head.
That is the apostolic ministry of Jesus Christ who works not just through the so called “church leaders”, but through the whole body like a well oiled machine.
So rather than reject, submit to His will, take your position within the body, and using the God given gifts, serve our Lord and Master to the full.
Romans 12:1-2, gives us the simple steps to not only be transformed into a new person in the likeness of Christ, but also to come to understand what is acceptable and perfect will of God in our individual lives.
Total submission shall take us to the place where can literally put on the very nature of Christ and fully operate in His power to share the Gospel, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (MATHEW 10:8).
In deed, Jesus said, ”“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.“
John 14:12-14 NKJV
My beloved, as I told you before, “”Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV
Jesus died for you, are you ready to live for Him?
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
