Sunday, June 24, 2018

June 25, 2018

"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." Romans 12:1-2

Five words are the hinge between the first eleven chapters of Romans and chapter 12. Those words are "in view of God's mercy".

The first eleven chapters of Romans are a detailed teaching in the doctrines of salvation but Romans 12 changes from doctrine to DOctrine as it illustrates what it looks like to live out these doctrines in daily life. There is a marked change from theology to "walkology" from what a Christian must believe to how a Christian must live.

In verses 1 and 2 Paul tells us why a Christ-follower should live what he believes (in view of God's mercy) and then illustrated how that happens (be transformed by the renewing of your mind).

Offering anything that is yours to someone else is hard. It isn't natural. Face it, you are naturally a taker not a giver. So what would motivate you to not only give something but to give everything? That would need to be a powerful motivation, correct?

Can you think of a more powerful motivation than the mercies of God? In view of all that God has done for you through His Son, Jesus Christ how can you not want to give yourself to Him?

I think what Paul is urging here is that you focus your attention, your "view", steadfastly on all that God has done for you and provided for you through Christ! 

In case you need to be reminded of God's mercies go back and read the first eleven chapters of Romans! If you don't have time to do that just read Chapter 8! You will be powerfully reminded of God's mercies! And if you have to read that chapter every day in order to be reminded of His mercies then do it! If you can memorize much of that chapter then do it!

Why not turn over there right now and REview God's mercy?