Devotional
for the week – 29 October 2007
Sermon
Title: Our Spiritual Act of Worship: Renewed
minds, Transformed lives
Scripture
Text : Romans
12:1-2
In
today’s passage, Paul exhorts his readers
to offer themselves, to transform or renew their
minds and in so doing, he assures his readers
that they will be able to learn for themselves
God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.
In
Paul’s mind, this message is so important
that he urges, pleads and entreats his readers.
This is very much like parents who, knowing
the importance of being organised, urge their
young children to clear away their toys. Paul
urges his readers because he wants them to know
and experience for themselves the mercies of
God.
Paul’s message can be studied in 3 parts.
1.
What is Paul urging us to do?
Paul
urges us to present or offer our bodies as living
and holy sacrifices as this is acceptable to
God and should be our spiritual act of worship.
It is important to present our bodies to God
because our lives were bought by Him and He
paid a dear price for it (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Jesus’ death on the cross made it possible
for us to gain forgiveness and eternal life
(Romans 6:13) and so, we belong to God (1 Corinthians
3:23). In this world, we all serve and obey
someone. If you are a slave to sin, this will
ultimately lead to death and eternal separation
from God. If you are a “slave” to
obedience, this will lead to righteousness (Romans
6: 16). Therefore, if you say that you are bought
by Jesus’ blood, then you should be obeying
Him. Living an acceptable life to God becomes
our spiritual act of worship.
2.
What is being renewed?
Our
bodies are being renewed. Transformed lives
begin with renewed minds. Remove that which
does not please God and replace it with acts
which the Bible tells you will. Here are some
principles that the Lord tells us to do with
our bodies:
(a)
Our minds – let the Word of God richly
dwell within you and set your mind on the things
above (Col: 3:2)
(b)
Our eyes – do not look at a woman with
lust (Matthew 5:28)
(c)
Our hands – lift up holy hands in prayer,
without anger or disputing with others (1Timothy
2:8)
(d)
Our hearts – put on a heart of love which
binds compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
patience and forgiveness in holy unity (Col
3:14)
(e)
Our feet – be the feet that brings glad
tidings of salvation for all (Romans 10:15)
(f)
Our mouths and hearts – do not love the
world or anything in it including the boastful
pride of life ie. all the worldly things you
have or have done (1 John 2:15-17)
Knowing
these things, what will you do when no one is
looking?
3.
What is the outcome?
The
outcome will be knowing God’s will. What
is God’s will like? Today’s passage
tells us that it is (a) good; (b) acceptable;
and (c) perfect. This principle is best understood
when we think of the presents we get on our
birthday or at Christmas. If you like watches
and your friend gives you a watch for Christmas,
this is a good gift because you like watches.
Perhaps it is an especially good gift because
this watch is exactly as you like it –
an electronic watch with a date and year function.
However, you already have 8 such watches and
when the battery goes flat on all of them, you
have to buy batteries for now, 9 watches and
you have to reset all 9 of them too! This is
certainly not an ideal situation.
Another
friend notices that your bible is falling apart
from frequent use and so he buys you a beautiful
bible cover for Christmas. This is a good gift
because it is beautiful. It is acceptable because
it fits your bible like a glove. Lastly, it
is perfect because it is something that you
need and don’t have, your friend has noticed
your need, it suits your purposes and it is
useful. Likewise, God’s will addresses
all your needs, whether you are aware of all
your needs or not.
CONCLUSION
Leading
a holy life is hard work. Take baby steps. Start
with living a holy moment. Before you know it,
many holy moments will add up to a holy life.
Trust God to do the perfecting (John 15:5).
Prayer
Response
Dear
Lord Jesus, I want to thank You for today’s
lesson on the importance of renewing my mind
and living a holy life. I pray that You will
reveal to me my shortcomings and help me to
remove one shortcoming at a time by replacing
them with a God honouring action or thought.
Lord Jesus, by Your mercy and through Your grace,
I offer myself to You. As you help me, enable
me to witness Your good, acceptable and perfect
will for my life. Amen.
Devotional
based on message by Dr Ho Boon Tiong (Associate
Lay Leader)