Romans 12:1-2 [1] 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.
The previous chapter of Romans makes it clear that God has not forsaken His promises to Israel. Their state of unbelief will one day be shed, and a remnant who survive the Tribulation will finally be saved, when they all recognize Jesus as their Messiah. In the meantime, their partial blindness has been a blessing to us who have been grafted in, with Israel, and we are now known as the church. Please do not misunderstand this. God has made promises, specifically to Israel, that He will fulfill to them. We, as the church, also have promises made to us that will also be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul tells us, because we have been given this wonderful undeserved opportunity, and blessing, we should be willing to lay down our bodies, on God's altar, as living sacrifices. How can a sacrifice be living, when a sacrifice that is put on the altar is supposed to be put to death first? I'm glad you asked. Very simply put, we are to be dead to the world, its ways, and all it offers; and be alive to God, in Christ, ready to serve Him in accordance with His will. That means that God, His Word, prayer, and serving Him, should be of greater priority than fulfilling our lustful and selfish desires for the empty promises the world makes us, day in and day out. Far too many of us have sold out to the world, chasing after money, status, popularity, and all kinds of prosperity; only to find out that all those things are ever fleeting. Even when we achieve these worldly goals, it all still leaves an emptiness that is never filled. We try to fill it all kinds of perversities, but it all usually ends in destruction of relationships and even the taking of one's own life. The only true life of satisfaction, here on earth, is a life lived for Jesus. It is a life that is dead to the things of this world, and has crucified its desires for them. It is a life that, though it be dead, is focused on heavenly things, and lives for the glory of God.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).
