.How do we do God’s will? (Cont)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Ps 34:19)
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” (Jn 16:33).
(3) Do Not Conform To The Present World System
“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,” (Rom 12:1,2).
12:1 “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Because of God’s profound mercy to us in Christ (11:32), believers should willingly offer their bodies to God as “a living sacrifice” for His honour, praise and glory (cf. 11:36).
1. Our greatest desire should be to live lives of holy worship and devotion to God. This requires separating ourselves from the pattern of this world (v.2) and pursuing God in holy passion and focus. Even our bodies are to be consecrated to God for a lifetime of worship and service.
2. We are to offer our bodies as dead to sin, instruments of righteousness and as the temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 6:6, 11, 13; 1Cor 6:15,19).
God has good, acceptable, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honour and obeying him. Because he wants only what is best for us, and because he gave his Son to make our new lives possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for his service.
12:2 “do not be conformed … but be transformed.” Paul implies several things here:
1. There is a very real pressure to conform to the pattern of the present world system and be squeezed into its mold on many different levels. This pressure must be firmly resisted by true believers.
2. The reason we must resist conforming to the present world system is that it is under Satan’s rule (see John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; 1John 5:19). It is hostile to God and His people (see John 7:7; 15:18-21; Jas 4:4; 1John 2:15-17), and it is built upon human wisdom and values (cf. 1Cor 1:17-25) and upon an unbiblical worldview (see 1:18-32; Col 2;8). (3). The kingdom of Christ is not of this world (John 18:36). This world’s kingdom is full of darkness, deception and seduction (cf. Mat 4:16; John 3:19; 1Cor 6:9-10; Eph 2:1-3; 1Pet 2:9; Rev 12:9).
On the one hand, believers are called to be light amid darkness (cf. Mat 5:14-16; Eph 5:8-11).
• Email:[email protected]. www.thebiblicalwomanhood.com Mobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987.
