In Part 1 of this study we looked at the book of Romans (12:1-2) and determined that there are three lessons that we can learn from the passage. We focused on the first lesson, Present your bodies as living sacrifices, it’s an easy thing to say but so hard to live out. How does our life say to God that He’s the most important thing? Take a look at the world and the things they are sacrificing themselves for, then take a look at your life and see if you are patterning it after the world or after the things of God. If we are not patterned after God, then we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
Do not be conformed to this world, Be transformed by the renewal of your mind
The first thing I see by reading through this is that by default we are conformed to this world, we are worldly. That’s a tough mold to break out of, yet by God’s grace once we are saved, we are out and have begun a transformation. It’s interesting to me that the mind is what is transformed. It’s not the heart, it’s not the soul, it’s not your actions, its your mind. Why? Because that’s where the mold of the world is. It’s in the world, it’s the world that says you want to get rich and retire early, it’s the world that says, if you’re not happy with the way things are, change them, change your job, change your house, your car, your wife.
Life is about the here and now, enjoy it, live in it, and don’t worry. This is the thinking which we need to be transformed from, the mindset that life is all about me, about my happiness, my satisfaction in the here and now. We were made with an eternal soul, and each day we give away a little bit more of that soul, either to God, or to the temporary here and now. Your mind, by default, speaks much louder than the Spirits voice. Your mind says, “You want it? Then get it! You only live once.” Indeed, until the Spirit breathes life into a dead man’s spirit, he’ll never respond or react to the voice which says,…
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17
Discern what is the will of God
“That by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The will of God, that thing which seems so elusive to so many Christians yet I believe God makes so clear in His Word. He may not tell you whether to buy this or that, to marry this guy or that girl, to take give to this charity or that missionary but His will is bigger then all of these. The will of God is not so much a thing or idea but exactly what it is, the will of God. Its what God wants, not what you want.
If you truly desire to honor God and glorify Him with every choice you make then you will submit your will to His will. How do you do that? Look up! What did we just read? We say, “God, I sacrifice my interests, I sacrifice my best skills, nothing I have is my own for it was You who ultimately gave it all to me. The world says I should be retiring next year, but is that what You want? How would you have me spend my free time this summer, the world says I should party with my friends, go to the beach, and eat out every night, but is the really how you would have my spend my time?
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 1 Peter 2:15
Father, I’m really struggling in my marriage, she’s just so difficult! The world says I should just ditch her and pick out a new one but Father that’s not how you treat me as part of your church so what would You have me do?” Pray Christian! O pray, pray, pray! Do you want to know what your earthly employer wants, what his will is? You ask him don’t you? So much more should we ask our Heavenly Commander for what His will is. You will do this through prayer, and not just sometimes saying a quick prayer, but often, focused, and fervent times of prayer.
Pray, especially before big events in your life, such as “popping the big question”, buying a house or car, career or job change. O how this is not natural, indeed, this is so unnatural and foreign to our once dead spirits, yet, if you want to do what God wants you to do, (His will) then you’ll ask Him. Take much time in prayer, fast, do what you must and what you can to seek the face of God.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:36
All to often it’s not that I don’t know what the will of God is, but that the will of God is not my will. What I want is not what He wants so I must bend and do what I want, or I must break and do what He wants. Do not follow the patterns of this world, the day by day assumptions that this is what people do. O how we assume and are patterned by the culture and society around us. Don’t just throw the world out, but bring God in and let Him work His will in you and your life will be transformed as you become a Christian.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2
