Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – Romans 12:1-2 – Offer Your Bodies – Growing As Disciples
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Living Sacrifice
Do you want to know my good, perfect and pleasing will? Do you want to live your life in ways that please me? Yes, I want to know and do your will. I want to think your thoughts and walk in your ways. In every way I want to do what pleases you. Thinking my thoughts will make you able to walk in my ways. How can I think your thoughts? That is a very good question. Why is that? There is a battle going on over your heart and mind. You may be unaware of it, but it rages on nevertheless. I’m not exactly sure what you are talking about. Then, its time for you to know exactly what I am talking about. The world is bombarding your heart and mind with its values, patterns and practices. Up until now you have been allowing your heart and mind to conform to all that the world has to offer. You have been living according to the values, patterns and practices of this world. That is not good. Why is that? You tell me. The world’s values, patterns and practices stand in opposition to your will and your ways. That’s right. You cannot live in ways that please me if you allow yourself to continue to be conformed to the world. You cannot present yourself to me as a living sacrifice unless you allow me to change your heart and transform your mind.
I want you to change my heart and transform my mind. How will you do that? I will change your heart and transform your mind as you do two things. First, you must give yourself fully to me. You must desire to leave the things of this world. You must not allow yourself to be conformed to the values, patterns and practices of the world. This will mean that you will need to take an inventory of your life. You will need to closely examine worldly influences over your life. You will need to separate yourself from these worldly influences. That sounds like it will be very difficult. It won’t be easy at first. If this were all you tried to do, it would be impossible. Your efforts would end in failure. What else do I need to do? You will need to meet with me in my word. My word will strengthen you. My word will change your heart. My word will transform your mind. As you meet with me in my word, it will become your desire to leave the things of the world. You will want to know my thoughts and walk in my ways. You will have great joy in presenting yourself to me as a living sacrifice. That’s exactly what I want. Yes, I know.
Lord, no longer do I want to live according to the patterns of this world. Instead I want to present myself to you as a living sacrifice so I can live in ways that please you. Use your word to transform my heart and mind so I will be able to know and do your will. Amen
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Therefore – Romans 12-1-2 – Offer Your Bodies – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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