Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Reflection:

Many of us desire to offer something back to God, but this passage declares that because God is merciful to us, we are to worship Him with our bodies – the entirety of who we are. As those who belong to Him, we are also to refuse to give in to what the world dictates and instead have our minds renewed as we live lives that are dedicated to the Lord. On this journey with God, this is real transformation – becoming a living sacrifice, knowing God’s will, knowing the ‘why’ about life and being able to know what is sweet and what is not. This is why we are on this journey – for true and proper worship of God.

Response:

As people of God, we may occasionally find ourselves asking why we do what we do and what it is all about. Whether we have been on this Christ-led journey for only a few years or have been at it for most of our lives, we can rest assured that the Spirit of Christ who is alive in us renews and transforms us, and enables us to continue to offer our lives to Him in true worship. Today, let’s give joyous praises to Him, because we have been renewed by the Spirit, and let’s ask the Spirit for more transformation that true and proper worship of God may increase in our lives.