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Romans 12:1 - Be A Living Sacrifice.TRANSLATIONSRomans 12:1 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 (EAV) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. WORD STUDY The living sacrifice is giving up anything that would interfere with our relationship with Christ. [Concept from sermon on Righteousness by Faith by Morris Vendon at Fletcher SDA Church in 1/96] INTRODUCTION God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him and to serve others in the name of Jesus. Because he wants only what is best for us and because he gave his Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices in his service. COMMENTARY PEARL Said Christ: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." Those who do love God with all the heart will desire to give Him the best service of their life, and they will be constantly seeking to bring every power of their being into harmony with the laws that will promote their ability to do His will. GC 473 We are to give ourselves to the service of God, and we should seek to make the offering as nearly perfect as possible. God will not be pleased with anything less than the best we can offer. Those who love Him with all the heart, will desire to give Him the best service of the life, and they will be constantly seeking to bring every power of their being into harmony with the laws that will promote their ability to do His will. PP 352-353 The tendencies of the physical nature, unless under the dominion of a higher power, will surely work ruin and death. The body is to be brought into subjection to the higher powers of the being. The passions are to be controlled by the will, which is itself to be under the control of God. The kingly power of reason, sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in the life. Intellectual power, physical stamina, and the length of life depend upon immutable laws. Through obedience to these laws, man may stand conqueror of himself, conqueror of his own inclinations, conqueror of principalities and powers, of "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and of "spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12. PK 489 COMMENTARY Already Accepted If you live for people's approval, you will die by their rejection. When we're not careful, we can forget we were created by God for a purpose that He set in motion for our lives. He didn't ask us to compare ourselves to others or run someone else's race. He said, Run your race. He didn't want us to work on someone else's timetable. He wants us to work on His timetable. God wants us to know that "he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). This truth helps us know that God cares for us more than we can imagine. Whether at school, at work, or with family, we potentially face rejection every day. We move past fear of disapproval by immersing ourselves in the acceptance of Christ. To no longer strive for worldly acceptance because we are already accepted in Him. We can arrive to every situation confidently, knowing we are secure in Jesus' love. Dear God, I no longer live for man's approval. I trust my identity is secure because You sent Your Son to die in my place. Thank You for accepting me into Your family! [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] Fit for a Temple An Amazing Fact: Metamorphic rocks are created when other types of rocks are transformed due to great pressure and heat within the earth. The meaning of the term "metamorphic," in fact, is "changed." When igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, or even metamorphic rocks get buried very deep under the earth's surface, they get changed into something else by the enormous pressure and heat inside the earth. Metamorphosis is a word we often associate with caterpillars and butterflies or tadpoles and frogs. But rocks can change too. For instance, limestone can be changed into marble and shale can turn into slate. The process requires an intense amount of pressure. Marble is a beautiful stone that can be polished. That's why it is often used in elaborate buildings for bathtubs, floors, and countertops. Marble is also a popular stone used for carvings to make statutes. There are many different types of marble because of various elements present during formation. It also has different sizes of crystals, which make for a wonderful variety of this rock. And it all comes from sandstone, which is a soft stone that easily crumbles. Paul urges the Christians in Rome, "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 12:2). God wants you to be changed into something beautiful for the Lord's temple, a pillar or a vessel that serves others. How does this happen? Often under pressure. Some of the hardest lessons in life come from difficulties. But as we persevere our hearts are changed. We become more like Christ, fit to be in a heavenly temple. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Romans 12:2 - Transformation: Glimpses Into How It Is Done. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250301-1417.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250220-1548.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240405-0931.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230519-1055.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220201-0851.html 1 Peter 2:4-6 - Living Stones of God's Temple. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220131-0921.html Romans 6:12, 13 - Living The Old Nature Or The New? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20241113-1454.html Romans 6:16 - Who Is Your Master? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221023-0845.html Romans 13:14 - Putting On Christ. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250411-1311.html Luke 9:23 - MORE OF JESUS. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250624-1531.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |