SCRIPTURE:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT)

DEVOTIONAL:

From this week’s theme verse, Romans 12:1, we see that it’s not unreasonable that these things are requested of us. Paul goes on to say in verses 2 and 3, “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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;”  

Here is where people get confused. It didn’t say, “Don’t think highly;” it just said, “Don’t think more highly.” That’s what’s wrong with some folks. Because they don’t think much of themselves, they treat other folks like they think of their own selves, and they end up dogging everybody. You should think highly of yourself. That means no more low self-esteem. If God had gathered up all the gold in the world, it still would not have been enough to pay for your redemption. He had to give His own Son’s life.

A Rolls Royce, diamonds, corporate jets, or 14-bedroom mansions could not even come close to the value of one person’s life. This is why some folks have trouble believing God for a nice vacation and first-class accommodations. They don’t think highly of themselves. They don’t see themselves the way God sees them.

How valuable are you to God? Genesis 1:27 tells us we are made in God’s image. And, in the New Testament, it says this, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

PRAYER:

Dear God, I praise You and give You glory for making man in Your own image. And I thank You that I am Your masterpiece in Christ Jesus. By faith, I walk in all of the good things You have planned for my life even from the foundation of the earth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s mini-book, The Power of Grace. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.