Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.
Devotional: If you are reading these devotionals, there is a good chance that you are looking to dive a little deeper into your relationship with the Lord. And if you happened to stumble across them and are completely new to Christianity or are unsure of what you believe, welcome! I am so glad that you are here.
But for those of us who already know Christ as our Savior, this is your reminder that we are called to live differently than the rest of the world. The things that this world glamorizes and labels as truth, love, and hope are very different from the Truth, Love, and Hope that we find in Jesus. Our verses for today remind us that we are to lay down our bodies as a sacrifice. We are called to give our lives over entirely to the Lord. This is how we are to worship Him. We give ourselves over completely so that He can transform us more into His image.
As we do this, we will look less and less like the world. As you have walked your journey with God, you may have seen this play out in some ways already. Perhaps movies or music you once liked you can no longer listen to because the messages they are sending bother you. Perhaps it means that you cannot go out for a drink with your friends because you know that you do not have enough self-control to make God-honoring decisions once you have had a few drinks. Perhaps it means saving sex for marriage in a culture that glorifies one-night stands. It is likely different for all of us, as we are each on our own journey. And it will likely change even more as more time has passed.
When we think about how God has called us to live, He has not just called us to simply be in harmony with everyone. Yes, He has commanded us to love one another. But loving one another does not simply mean being complacent about the things of this world. Instead, it makes walking in both truth and grace. It means not conforming to the ways of this world but rather standing on the truth of God’s Word. It does not mean conceding to the messages that this world says are loving but rather offering the forgiveness, hope, and healing that is found in Jesus alone.
As we walk this journey of sanctification, we must accept that God has called us to be different than this world. He has called us to be a light and to stand firm in Truth. He has called us to give our lives fully over to Him in worship so that He can use for his glory.
Reflect:
- What messages in the world right now are clearly in opposition to the truth of God’s word?
- Sometimes following Jesus and His commands means we have the unpopular opinion. Are there any of those opinions that you struggle with or wrestle with?
- Pray that God would continue to form you into His likeness and stand firm in His truth.