November 27, 2022
Morning Service

In the short time we have before Christmas, I did not want to start a new study so today we will look at some scripture from one of the most powerful chapters of scripture we have in the Bible; Romans 12.  We will only read the first two verses and I would encourage you to take the time to memorize them.  They are a great reminder of what God has called to be as His followers.  The reason I chose this was mainly because that it lines up well with the Colossian study we just completed.  Just as Paul described the Divinity of Jesus stating that “all things were made by Him and for Him” the Roman author does the same as he closes out chapter 11.

Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  (34)  "FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? OR WHO HAS BECOME HIS COUNSELOR?"  (35)  "OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM AND IT SHALL BE REPAID TO HIM?"  (36)  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

            The writer quotes as passage from Isaiah here to open our eyes to the greatness of our God.  Who really knows the mind of God?  Who can council Him?  Who does God owe anything to?  No one is the obvious answer. For all things are of Him, through Him and to Him which should bring us to glorify His Name forever.  As we begin chapter 12, the writer uses “therefore” which should always cause you to look back to what was just written.  Because of the knowledge and understanding of all that he just stated then he challenges us to respond.

 

 Rom 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.  (2)  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.

            Because “all things of Him, through Him and to Him” our response should look like this.  First, we are to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.”  As the OT is full of types and shadows of what is perfected in the NT, this is one of them.  Animal sacrifices were brought and given to the Lord dying upon the altar in obedience to the commandments.  It was given wholly and totally unto the Lord.  We too are called to come to the altar and “spiritually” die to ourselves but to live for Christ.  Paul summed this up best in his Galatian letter.

 

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

            We who have accepted the call to follow Jesus, no longer live to ourselves (as we died with Christ in the waters of baptism) but now we allow Christ to live through us.  We have experienced our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection to become that “new creation.”  That is exactly what being a “living sacrifice” means.  This giving totally of ourselves in not something extraordinary or special, but as verse one ends with it “is your reasonable service.”  The NLT translates that as your “act of worship.”  This dying of yourself to live for God is an expected action for a Jesus follower.  We realize how great He is and it causes us to want to offer ourselves fully to His service.  It is really all we have that we can offer.  Wherever, whatever we are ready to go where we are called and to do whatever needs done; making our entire lives an act of worship to Him.  Also in the Roman letter, Paul puts it this way about being available for Him to use.

 

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

            When I try to define being “instruments of righteousness to God,” I picture Jesus with a tool belt on.  Inside the belt, I see each one of us.  As Jesus surveys the Mitchell area, He sees a need and He reaches into His belt and pulls out one of us or a group of us to use to meet that need.  It may be as simple as a word of encouragement, sending a card, moving some furniture, or even impressing on our heart to pray.  It may be fixing a meal, a visit, a ride to church, leading a Bible study, teaching a Sunday school class, giving a gift to a family in need, lending an eager ear, giving spiritual advice, or even giving of your time to decorate the church.  It also may be a long term investment of getting involved with someone in need and helping them to carry their burdens; rolling up your sleeves and getting involved.  We are tools in His hand to fulfill His Will and meet needs for those around us.  Jesus is the Head of our church and we are His hands and feet to do His bidding. That is when we can truly say, we are “better together!”   It is a dying to ourselves to live for God; becoming a living sacrifice to be used in His service.

Being honest with yourself, do you look at opportunities to serve like this as an act of worship, or more of an inconvenience to your plans?  That is the struggle we all fight as it is hard to die out to ourselves, but greatly rewarding to live for Christ.  The key is it comes from fully giving ourselves to God, holding nothing back and pursuing to become all that He has planned for us to be.  Seeking Him first in everything.

The instruction from our original text does not stop there (reread verse 2).  We are “in” the world, but we are not “of” the world.  Our culture has a way to try to squeeze you into a mold to be like everyone else, but that is not God’s plan for our life. We are called to be different, chosen to be God’s own people; Peter explains this calling like this:

 

1Pe 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

            Notice the adjectives that describe us; chosen, royal, holy, special, and the people of God!  Do you feel all of those?  You should for you are the child of a King not being born into His lineage, but chosen, hand-picked to be a part of His family!  Because we are now part of this royal family we are called to act like it.  Verse 2 says to “be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing or you mind.”  We are not to look like, talk like and act like those of this world, (conformed) but we are to be changed to reflect the One we are following (transformed).  This transformation that occurs to us must be much deeper than just changing our behavior and customs; the change comes through the “renewing of our mind.”  God wants to transform you into what He has planned by transforming the way you think first.  That is where Bible study comes in.  As you read, study, and apply the scriptures to your life a transformation occurs from the inside out.  That is exactly the point we made with the “new you” series through Colossians.  As we read the Word and see things in our lives that do not line up, then we begin to pray and ask God to transform that part of our life to fulfill His calling upon our lives.  We become the light stepping out of the darkness; putting off the “old man” and putting on the “new you.”  Your life becomes a testimony to the One you are following as Verse 2 says you “prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”

            Through these scriptures we see three steps to become all that God has designed us to be.  First, we must yield ourselves totally to Him as a “living sacrifice.”  Secondly, we must separate ourselves from this world by not “conforming” our lives to the world’s standards.  Finally, we are to be transformed into the “new you” by the renewing of your mind.  These things do not come naturally, they can take great effort and restraint, but the Holy Spirit within in us will empower us to be victorious.  Let these challenges energize you to be all you can for the One who gave us His all.

 

Heavenly Father create within us a desire to yield to You and be transformed by You into that good and faithful servant who brings glory to Your Name by our manner of life.