Romans 12:1-2
1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

(all Scripture quotes from NASB)

Foldback

So, let's put what we've learned in the last few weeks back into the verse before us:

1 I beg and encourage you therefore, brethren, by God's heart of compassion, to present your bodies a living, physically pure, morally blameless, and ceremonially consecrated sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your worship of God according to the Levitical code. 2 And do not fashion yourselves according to the pattern of this world, but undergo metamorphosis by the complete changing of your mind for the better, that you may discern, approve, and recognize as genuine what the purpose of God through Christ is, that which is profitable and fully agreeable and wanting nothing in its completeness.

The Renewed Lifestyle

What will it take to live this way?

• Thus renewed, we must do our utmost to bear in mind the price God paid for our freedom, and so keep our desire to be presentable before Him ever in mind (1Corinthians 6:20).
• We must offer praises to Him throughout the day (Hebrews 13:15), as the eyes He has opened see His hand shaping events around us.
• We must expend every effort in learning what will please our God (Ephesians 5:10), to know His will, that we may do it.
• Our prayers each day must be that He would fill us to the complete knowledge of His will, a completeness of spiritual wisdom (Colossians 1:9), because we have come to know that without His guidance we are incapable of succeeding in anything but foolishness.

The Wycliffe commentary notes that, "Christian living is simply being a Christian and acting as a Christian should in every part of life." This is a very simple concept, yet it is a task hugely difficult to perform. It requires constant diligence on our parts, for the Christian life is radically opposed to what we are in our own nature. It is radically opposed to the ways of the world in which we are called to live out this Christian life. We are called to lead by serving in a most self-centered world. We are called to be humble in the midst of a proud people. We are called to be righteous in a world that prefers its sins. We are called to be light in the darkness. We are called to stand out, not to blend in.

Indeed, Father, the instructions are simple. Live as You have told us to live. Yet, we find it so hard. The constant pressure against doing so daily overwhelms us, as we seek to live as You would have us. Would you come to our aid more quickly today? I know. You always have been there to assist, and You ever will be. Help us, rather, to avail ourselves of Your strengthening presence. Help us to hear You calling out direction, to heed Your guidance, and to follow. As we go into the world once more, help us to see how to be in but not of. We lose sight of it so quickly. Show us, my Lord, how to keep our light shining in the pure light of Your truth and love.

Remind us, Father, to stop and draw strength from our praises of You, to offer You thanks for each victory as it comes. Help us, Lord, to remember to stop and seek after Your plan, to operate according to Your will and not my own.