SCRIPTURE:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Romans 12:1–2)

DEVOTIONAL:

This week’s scripture is written to the brethren, the brothers and sisters, which means you and me. And apparently our bodies have a purpose. We are to use them in the service of God, and what God is asking is totally reasonable. It is reasonable because Jesus died for us and redeemed us from eternal death and hell, so we have no problem serving Him with our whole being. 

Then, as we serve Him, we are never to forget Him as our example. We are not to be conformed to the world around us, to be squeezed into that mold, or continue in ungodly behavior. Instead, we are to be transformed in a process like metamorphosis by renewing our minds with God’s Word. The Word of God will renovate our thinking and thus transform our behavior to be as much like Jesus on the outside as the inside.

When we are born again, we become new creations in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). The Holy Spirit moves in and we begin to change. We begin to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God to ourselves and everyone around us.

PRAYER:

Dear God, I purpose to present my body to you as my reasonable service because of what Jesus did for me. And, I make a commitment to spend more time in Your Word this year that I might be transformed and walk in Your perfect will for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s powerful book, Transform Your Thinking, Transform Your Life. To order this kingdom leadership playbook, click here.