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About-Him.Com Devotional 06-16-2012 Http://About-Him.Com Be Transformed by The Renewing of Your Mind Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. As is often the case in the apostle Paul’s writings, one thought is built upon another by the use of the word, “therefore.” Looking back to the previous chapter, he writes of blindness coming upon Israel because of their unbelief, so that the gentiles might be saved (Ro.11:25). The gospel was opened up to the gentiles because of Israel’s disobedience. They will not be cast off forever. They will be restored and recognize the Lord Jesus as their God (Isa. 25:9; Zec. 13:6). Paul is telling his gentile readers to recognize the privilege that has been given to us, that we are now included in the family of God. The apostle Peter who took the message of salvation to the gentiles also reminds us that it is only by the mercies of God that the gentiles are included in God’s plans. It is by His mercy and His mercy alone that the whole human race wasn’t wiped out as soon as Adam sinned. 1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Paul concludes chapter 11 by reminding us of how great and incomprehensible our God is. The depth of His wisdom and knowledge is unfathomable. His judgments are unsearchable and His ways past finding out. No one knows His mind and none have been His counselor. All things are of Him, through Him and to Him. To Him be glory forever. Romans 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Paul beseeches or pleads with us to humble and voluntarily offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, which is our reasonable service. Paul’s Jewish readers were well schooled in the Old Testament system of sacrifice. Perfect, unblemished animal were totally and completely offered on the altar of fire and nothing could be withheld. Anything else was considered unholy and unacceptable. So it is with our spiritual sacrifices today. Our God is still a coming fire (Heb. 12:29). Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The world around us is totally and absolutely corrupt, what else can we expect considering who their god is, namely Satan (2 Co. 4:4)? He is the roaring devouring lion (1 Pe. 5:8), who has blinded the minds of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Conforming to something is to take on it’s form and shape, much as water being poured into a bottle conforms to the shape of the bottle. 1 John 2:15 gives us a vivid description of the “world.” 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. I believe that being conformed to the world is perfectly demonstrated by the current drive concerning gay rights and same sex marriage, which of course are contrary to scripture (Le. 18:22; Ro. 1:24,26). As a result of constant bombardment by the media, politicians who once were opposed to it are now in favor. Advertisers aim their ads to this market and I see that our military is set to celebrate gay pride month. Of course Christians who are in opposition are painted as bigots. Nothing could be further from the truth. We desire that all men and women come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We avoid being conformed to this world by being transformed by the renewing of our minds. I believe that Paul is talking about the mind that we received at our new birth, which is the mind of Christ (1 Co. 2:16; 2 Co. 5:17; 1 Co. 5:17). It does need to be renewed daily. To be transformed is to go through a total change in our direction, our thinking and our actions. We cannot totally isolate ourselves from the world, but we can insulate ourselves so that the world does not affect us. Our minds are constantly subjected to the filth of the world. Even our newspaper use street talk in their reporting. We can try as we might to avoid trash on TV but to no avail, the commercials don’t leave much to the imagination. One also needs blinders when walking through our shopping malls. Many of the store displays are indecent. So what do we do? Give our minds a good rinsing by focusing on our great God and being washed in His word (Eph. 5:26). So that we can prove what is the good and acceptable will of God. We long to hear Him say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@About-Him.Com Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries
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