Romans 12 (NIV) – A Living Sacrifice
12 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. 2 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.
You are going into a new year. Are you going to be the same old you or are you looking for a change? Are you different than the world around you? If not, are you ready to be transformed? What example do you want to set? Will people see you and say “I want to be like them.”? I want what they have.
In Romans, Paul urges us to live lives unto the Lord. He tells us not to be like the world around us. He asks us to be transformed in our minds. The only way that will happen is if we live according to God’s will. To do that, we must know what God’s will for us is. Studying His Word will reveal God’s will.
Do live by a higher standard? In 1960, Hebrew National launched an ad campaign which said they answered to “a higher authority”. Can you guess who that authority was and is? It is the Lord your God. Do people see you as answering to a higher authority? Are you the one in your corner of the world who sets the higher standard? At this time of year when others are setting resolutions, you could be setting the standards. Zig Ziglar used to say, if you go around setting the example (or, in this case, the standard), you won’t have to do so much about setting the rules.
So how will you live in the coming year? Leader or follower? Standard setter or lowerer? Are you going to follow God’s good, pleasing and perfect will? Look to Him and be the leader He has called you to be! Set the example. Shine the light. Integrity is doing what you know is right even when you think no one is looking. Now is your chance to brighten your corner of the world in His name.
Thank You Lord for the chance to brighten the world in Your name. Transform us into who You want us to be. Let us live in a way that is pleasing to You. Help us to know and do Your will. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!