Romans 12:1-2

In Mark 12, Jesus was asked by one of his followers, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That is our greatest commandment. By following that instruction we submit ourselves to every biblical principle.

Mark 12:30

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

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. 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.”

Romans 12:1 was one of the first verses I ever memorized and has always held a special place in my heart and mind. Paul is appealing to all believers, that in view of the endless mercy God has granted us, we should respond by offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. We are alive in Christ. 2^nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This living sacrifice is a life-giving sacrifice. It is meant to bring us life and joy through offering every aspect of ourselves to Jesus. This obedience and sacrifice is not rooted in a desire to follow the biblical law but should be a joyous response to the unconditional love poured out for us through grace. The hope and promise of eternal life spurs me on to love Christ more each day, and that daily reflection on God’s sovereignty and work in my life draws a spirit of worship out of me. Worship is bigger than singing, praying and praising. I am moved into worship when I acknowledge God’s authority and plan in my life. Worship is repositioning my heart to honor him through my actions and words. This “living sacrifice” is our “spiritual worship”. Paul presents the concept of spiritual worship as a broad, all-encompassing giving of ourselves.

“Simply showing up on Sundays is not even close to worship. Neither does singing songs with religious content pass for worship. What counts is the posture of the soul involved, the open heart pouring forth its love toward God and communion with him.”-John Elridge

Romans 12:2 “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.”

Paul recognized the growing “evil” in the world and that without close attention, our flesh-driven desires would take over and we would be conformed to this world. Paul sees this natural course and provides a solution: to “be transformed by the renewal of mind.” In order to fight this natural, fleshly inclination to conform to the patterns of this world we must be transformed.

 Paul lays out the process of spiritual transformation with two directives. This renewal of mind is not limited to the initial conversion of a believer in Jesus but refers to the continual growth and daily renewal of the mind. This renewal of mind can take many different forms but is just the first command of that verse and is quickly followed with “by testing you may discern what is the will of God”. It is a great and holy thing to grow in faith, to become more disciplined in spiritual matters and to grow intellectually with God but that faith must be put into action and will undergo trials and temptations of physical, emotional and certainly spiritual natures. Paul specifically chose the word testing. One of my favorite questions to ask people is “What makes your relationship with God special?” We all connect with God in a unique and individual way, which is one of the most incredible aspects of God. When I answer that question for myself there is no doubt that my desire to grow intellectually and to grow in knowledge of God’s word and to lean into that aspect of God is special to me. It is where I connect with Him. It is where I find peace, rest and comfort. That’s just the introvert and reflective side of me at play. But sometimes I struggle to put all of this growth into action. Learning, discussing, reading and studying the bible and meditating over biblical truth is a beneficial practice but what use is it if these are not put into application, or put into practice. We can be transformed by this renewal of mind but putting this faith, putting these truths into practice can help us discern the will of God in each of our lives.

So what now? If you have a desire to be transformed but don’t know how or you’ve tried time and time again but that sin keeps coming back, then make room in your life for God to move. Set aside time to connect with God in the way that is special to you and Him. Allow a place in your life for the Holy Spirit to step in and make plays. And if you don’t have the desire for transformation, pray for it. This renewal of mind is not a one time deal. It is a continual renewal. We are imperfect and will be imperfect, but it is through our awesome God that we can have healing, and that we can have faith and that we can have eternal life. Let’s continue to grow in faith. Let’s pray for a desire to grow in ways that we don’t desire to grow. Let’s pray for a desire to serve, for a desire to pray more, for a desire to love better or for a desire to grow in knowledge of the Lord. Continue to meet with God in the ways you connect with Him best. And continue to share the Gospel, and continue sharing the love of Christ. 

Romans 8:1-11, My testimony

         This is part of what God has revealed to me this summer as I have had time to reflect on the work He has done in my life

Matthew5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.”

Throughout my time being part of youth ministry as a student I was blessed to be part of a ministry that valued community and mission work. I’ve been on the mission trips, and the church retreats and have experienced my fair share of the “Jesus Highs”. After my sophomore year in high school I went on a church retreat to South padre and felt a strong burden to get rid of all of the sin in my life. I knew that God’s plan for my life did not include falling into the temptations this world has to offer. I struggled with insecurities, a lack of confidence in who I was, lustful desires, and a desire to please others more than God. I came back from that retreat and was fired up to change my life. I was determined to make “this time different”, or to not “fall back into the ways of this world”. I had been on almost every retreat the youth group had to offer but still, every time I came home I had this determination to eliminate sin, and to live a life for god.

            But inevitably I ended up failing. And each time, it tore me apart more and more. I continued to fall into sin and I just felt a crushing weight that I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t holy enough, that I was doing something wrong, I thought my life had to be completely “fixed” in order to be a “solid Christian”.

                                                     

Romans 8:1-11

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The truth is, I was doing something wrong. I was not loving Jesus Christ as I was meant to love him. I wasn’t living for Christ like God intended for me to live. I was stuck living a life stuck under the weight of managing a life of sin and it was a weary life to live because I was not finding joy in my relationship with Christ. I was not finding joy in pursuing a relationship with Jesus.  

            After my junior year of high school I went on an 11 day long mission trip to El Salvador. While we were there we partnered with 4 different orphanages. That trip was one of many turning points in my walk with Christ. I didn’t realize it at the time, but after much reflection I have realized it was that trip when I truly started to walk with Christ for the purpose of spending time with the Lord and not for the sake of self -improvement, or fixing my life. It was an incredible turning point to recognize the sin in my life for what it was, and I slowly noticed that the more I focused on Jesus by seeking him through worship, prayer and the word, the less sin had roots in my life. The more I sought Jesus and a relationship with him, the less sin had an overwhelming, crushing weight on my day-to-day walk. It was like I had been released from the pressure to perform, the pressure to be liked, and the pressure to live a perfect life.

Romans 8:5-6

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace

What would our lives look like if our relationship with Jesus actually revolved around Jesus, and not the sin in our lives?

What I mean by this question is this:  So often we ask the question, “How is your walk with Jesus going?” My answer to that question has always centered around a checklist of some sort. Am I struggling with lust? Am I reading my bible a few times a week? Have I prayed every day?

            My answer when asked about my relationship with Jesus is never actually related to God or Jesus but my efforts in being a “good Christian”. But what if we made Jesus Christ the center of our spiritual efforts. I know if my relationship with Jesus revolved around him I would experience a life of joy. I would truly be living as though I were dead to this world and alive in Christ. I would truly be living on mission for God because I would be doing so with his Son right at my side. My acts of service, my prayers, my time spent in scripture, and all of my “spiritual efforts” would have a purpose: not to fix a life weighed down by sin but to develop an intense, passionate and fiery relationship with Jesus Christ, our creator, our caretaker, our lover, our stronghold, our refuge, our king and the Son of God.

Romans 8:35-39

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;


we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Richmond Howard

Great Commission

Recently I have spent a lot of time studying different topics and themes of the bible. I’ve been studying Fasting, Spiritual Disciplines, Satan/God, but through all of that I have been trying to develop a heart for evangelism and seek that in everything that I study. The bible ultimately should point us closer to God and I feel that every aspect of the bible does so. I firmly think that as Christians and believers in the Gospel message we are called to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to continue pursuing their faith and to avoid sin in their own lives. But on top of that we have another calling, the Great Commission that was given in Matthew28:16-20. The Great Commission points out our duty to spread the message of God to those who don’t believe, hoping and praying that God uses our words to stir their heart into belief in him.

After Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection, an Angel appeared to Mary and said:

Matthew28:7 “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen form the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them….”

Matthew28:16-20 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Now imagine, Jesus is about to be lifted up to join his Father and the Angels in Heaven. He is about to leave this earth and he has one last thing to say to those who have followed him throughout this entire ministry. He could talk about a number of biblical concepts such as sin, grace, love, money, fasting, and serving others but he chose to focus on one. He spoke of evangelism.

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”

 The eleven disciples were the men who followed Jesus through his entire ministry. They witnessed the miracles, heard the parables, protected him, broke bread with him, and prayed with him. These disciples witnessed incredible moments in history. The disciples and the other followers of Jesus Christ witnessed his ministry and life every single day and still had doubts. It is innate in our flesh to be filled with doubts. Often times I find myself asking God for a sign. “God, show me this and I will believe in you.” But God is evident in our daily lives. The followers of Christ(disciples and those who followed with them) saw the miracles, they were the miracles, and they performed miracles. These followers witnessed the life of Jesus in human flesh and still had doubts. So, even if you are living with doubts, understand that the apostles doubted as well. But those doubts never stopped them from spreading the word of God through Evangelism. Don’t hide behind your “doubts” and thus forsake spreading the message of God’s love and kindness in Christ Jesus. These earthly signs are significant but do not measure up to the ultimate sign of God’s love for his children! Jesus’ resurrection on the Cross serves perfectly as the display of God’s love and grace for us. He gave his one and only son to die for our sins and Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. God still performs miracles in our lives today so why do we continue to ask for a sign or a signal to help us grow in our faith when the ultimate miracle that will last for eternity took place 2000 years ago?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”

         Being with the disciples before he Ascended to Heaven, Jesus had one last opportunity to speak truth into their lives. He did not speak specifically to the disciples who worshipped him, or to those doubted him. He spoke to believers of all kinds. Sharing the gospel is not limited to those with a seminary degree, pastors, preachers, or missionaries in foreign countries. A desire to evangelize is not meant to be a characteristic limited to the “super Christians” or the “solid Christians”. Evangelism is one of the most fundamental facets of living a christian life. It is as basic as attending church, praying, worshipping. All believers are meant to go out and turn others into followers of Jesus Christ. We are all equipped with the power of the Jesus to make disciples of all nations. There is an incredible need for the gospel to be shared on our campus, in our families, in our organizations, in our own Country and each and every one of us is called to be that person sharing the gospel.

          Application: There is nothing else other than go out and share the gospel. For most of us in this fraternity, that means living a life worthy of Christ. Broken people are meant to share the gospel and witness to the transformation Christ has done in our own lives. But in order to share God’s work in our lives we must first allow him to move and transform our hearts.

1. Pray to God for repentance of Sins you’ve committed and the ones you don’t even know you commit.
2. Ask God for an opportunity to share the gospel. If you ask God for an opportunity he will provide one
3. Be Bold in your faith. Have confidence in what you believe and share the Gospel. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins so that we might know him. So offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 

Matthew 5: 14

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." 

"Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us."
-Oswald Chambers