Growing in God - Part 2

Our Response to the Gospel

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In my last article, I talked about Peter and other saints never being perfect but always making progress. Christ was perfect for us, so our response to him is to worship him through our obedience. This is exactly what Paul is talking about in Romans 12.

The Good News

Paul, wrote to the Romans to explain to them what the Gospel was. He explains in the first 11 chapters how all mankind is separated from God because of their sin (Romans 3:11;23) and how our sin carries a sentence of death and damnation with it (Romans 6:23). But because of God's great mercy, Jesus took our sin and the death sentence for us (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:12). This is the incredible good news.

Worship Through Living

With this in mind, Paul writes Romans 12:1-2. In light of the news, our lives should be an act of worship with God. That means what we say, how we treat people, how we love of wives, and train our children is all worship. In Paul's view, worship will take many different forms. Let me give you some practical examples.

Instead of ruling over your wife (which was typical in the 1st Century), we are to serve them, protect them, help them and lead them. Paul's explains in several places that the marriage should look like Jesus' unconditional love towards you. This should change our perspective of marriage. Our marriages are an act of worship.

Let me give you one more example. If you are someone always angry or causing conflict at home or at work, Paul writes and tells us to put those things away (Colossians 3:8-9) and instead, we are to put on a better nature and gives a list to combat the previous nature (Colossians 3:12-15). Now, when it comes to anger, Paul does not say that anger is wrong, he just simply says not to sin in our anger (Ephesians 4:26). Our self-control in these situations are also a form of worship as well.

Progress, Not Perfection

The bottom line to all these thoughts is this, we are to strive to live differently than when we did in our previous lives (Colossians 3:1-6). We do not do this to earn extra points with God. We do this because it is how we worship. It is a constant battle that God will help you with daily (Matthew 16:24-26). Remember it is a process, and in that process we strive for progress.

Questions

Are their areas in your life that you know are not pleasing to God? If yes, what are they?

Have you asked for Christ to forgive you of those sins?

List some practical ways that you can combat these areas and make progress. (Example: I have outbursts of anger and am hateful towards people daily. I can combat that by praying that God will help me have peace in my heart and love and compassion for that person.)

Prayer for the Day

Psalm 28:2; 6-7

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary… 6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Father, I thank you today that you do not demand perfection, and that Jesus took my sin and shame from me. Because of your grace, help me to live a life that brings glory and worship to your name. I ask that you hear my prayer and are my strength today. When my heart wants to wander towards sin today, gently remind me of your goodness and your grace. Amen.