Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 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.
God is not unclear about how He wants you to live! There is no ambiguity in His word. It is clear that He does not want you to take on the ways of the world but, rather, to set an example for the world to follow. He wants you to reveal Him to them. He wants you to show the world how they should live. This will not be easy. Mark Twain once said “There is nothing more annoying than a good example!” You will be an irritation to the world at large when you walk with the Lord. Jesus tells you that the world will hate you. (Matthew 10:22)
Paul is begging us to live holy lives acceptable to God. He tells us that it is our service to the Lord. Paul clearly tells us to not follow the ways of the world but to be changed and renewed by following God’s will. God’s will for our lives is perfect.
We were chosen to reveal God to the rest of the world. That is only done by example because talk is cheap. Our example of right living is found in Christ alone. How can you live in the world and not be a part of it? The only way is to look to the One who is perfect in every way. He will transform you and renew your thinking enabling you to walk in His ways. You will be at odds with the world! The world says, go ahead, take what you want. You are worth it! The Lord tells you to look out for widows and orphans! It will be a battle. Zig Ziglar defined integrity as doing the right thing even when you think no one is watching. That is living in God’s ways. Do you know what God expects of you? Are you willing and able to follow His will for your life?
I know I call these devotionals Encouragement Daily. And yet, I tell you that the world is going to hate you. How encouraging is that? But here is the encouragement. There are over 400 uses of the words bless or blessing in the Bible. Each of those is tied to following the Lord. The world may hate you but God will love you. That alone, is worth everything! You are here to shine light into the darkness of the world. If you do, He will pour out so much blessing that you will not have storehouses enough to hold it all! I beseech you. Walk in His ways and be blessed and be a blessing!
Lord, strengthen us to walk in Your ways. Let us shine Your light into this dark world so as to lead the lost to You. Use us to Your glory. Help us to endure the hatred of the world in order to receive the love and blessings of our Lord, Savior and Friend. In Your name we pray!
Christ Alone Cornerstone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d1ImbEoW0A