Living A Transformed Life Every Day
Explore the transformative power of Romans 12:1-2 and learn how to live a life dedicated to God, not conformed to the world. Discover the choice between life and chaos through God’s word.
If I had to choose a favorite book from the Bible, it would undoubtedly be Romans! This book is rich with profound doctrinal truths and has the power to transform your life. Romans delves into our faith and what we possess in Christ. It narrates the story of God’s love and mercy in a rebellious world. Today, let’s explore two verses that are very dear to my heart.
Romans 12: 1-2
I think Romans 12: 1-2 is one of the best verses to live by. When I first heard it, it brought me to my knees…
Romans 12:1-2 says:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
“And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Do these verses seem a bit challenging to understand? Sometimes, we need the scriptures explained in a more contemporary vernacular. Here’s how THE MESSAGE paraphrases these two magnificent verses, providing guidance on how to live:
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you and develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-3, The Message
How Our Lives Have Ultimate Meaning
In a world that is unsteady and chases after ungodly things, there is a constant way of life that is sure and true and comes with immense benefits.
We will only find true purpose and peace in this world when we surrender our lives to God, walk with Him, obey Him, and love Him with all our hearts. God is the ultimate lover of our souls and the rock in our lives. He is about transforming lives to have significant meaning and purpose. Our role is to abide in a relationship with Him and obey Him.
When we do, we will increasingly resemble our Savior, Jesus, rather than this out-of-control world.
Abid And Obey
So, how do you abide and obey? Read—no, study—the Bible and obey what it says. The Bible is our instruction manual. Every word is life-giving and true. It will guide you on conforming to God our maker and LORD and living victoriously in this turbulent world.
No wonder I adore these verses in Romans so much! God is giving us a choice: conform to Him or conform to this world.
A Multiple Choice Life Lesson
This reminds me of a passage in Deuteronomy. As the Israelites stood on the brink of entering the land God promised them, He declared:
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and length of days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
God presented Israel with a multiple-choice test: A – choose life, B – choose death, C – the answer is “A”, choose life.
God offers you and me the same choices in Romans: a life with Him or a life in the chaos of the world. One is life-giving, and the other leads to death. God says, choose Me, choose LIFE!
You Get To Choose
How do you want to live your life? YOU get to choose. Will you live a transformed life?
Romans 12:1-2 is a beautiful verse to memorize and live by:
“Therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
“And do not be conformed by this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you may prove what the will of God is, that what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
More Sunday Scriptures
Happy Sunday, friends…
As always your Sunday message is a blessing . Thanks !
Amen! The world needs Jesus now more than ever.
Hugs and blessings to you.
Yes, it does. Hugs and blessings back to you!
A timely message. Thank you for your inspiration each Sunday.
Praise God for His precious words.
Thank you!
You are welcome, Maureen.
❤❤❤ this post! Thank you!
Yvonne, thank you for your beautiful posts that you share each day. I truly appreciate the balance of all things home and garden and I LOVE the scripture lesson you include each week. May you continue to be blessed in every area of your life. Warmly, Eva
Does do not be conformed by this world mean not to buy pretty stuff for house and garden? I struggle with this question….can you help me understand the difference between living for God and Worldly? I want to do the will of God.
This is a great question. I think we can like things but we cannot let that like turn into an obsession to have them. God has blessed us beyond what we can think and imagine. And I’m speaking of the eternal realm. When I have masted living like this I’ll let you know!
I love God and Jesus and try to live life for my God and Savior. However I’ve had a passion for decorating home and garden since a teenager. I’m always looking for something to put in my house or garden that is pretty to me. I’ve been thinking for awhile is this wrong? I’ve prayed alot of prayers about it….I pray I’m not doing wrong in God’s eyes. Thanks for trying to help me understand. Love your Sunday blog.
If liking pretty things is wrong, then why would God have provided such beauty in the world? Flowers, sunsets, sunrises, the softness of a baby’s skin. I think God gave us this appreciation for beauty and we feather our nests in the same way.
God’s Word is always applicable to our lives, but these passages right now….in our country ( as in Roman days)…..piercing and comforting at the same time. Thank you for sharing!
Just remember our world is not falling apart. It is falling into place to prepare for our Lord’s return. Maranatha!
Thank you for that “beautiful nudge” in the right direction of daily living. This week our Priest asked and challenged us to figure out how we are changed each time we receive the Eucharist. I feel filled with Hope for a wonderful week no matter what comes up.
Communion is a sign of the Covenant we have with our Lord. It’s a beautiful time of intimate connection.
This was a true blessing to read ..thank you always ??
Very uplifting! Thanks.
I am blessed to read this at the end of the Lord’s Day as I look to the week of work and interaction with many people. As I go through my work and errands and to-do lists, I pray that may I bring glory to Him as I live out my gratitude for all that He has done for me. Thank you for your reminder of renewal.
Amen, Marilyn!
Thank you for this message this morning, Yvonne. I turned on the TV this morning to watch my favorite minister, Dr. Charles Stanley, and learned that he had passed this week. I’m surprised at how deeply this affected me, and I was glad to have inspiration from your post.
I know! He is with the Savior he preached about for years. Praise God. We will miss him.
Thank you Yvonne. Do you recommend a good study bible? I would love to study .
My favorite Bible studies are from Precepts Ministries. Go here to see them:https://shop.precept.org/?utm_adposition=&utm_campaign=TN_Precept_Q42021&utm_content=610342122713&utm_device=c&utm_keymatch=e&utm_medium=cpc&utm_placement&utm_source=google&utm_term=precepts%20ministries&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwl6OiBhA2EiwAuUwWZe1k57J_7teQz8VcdNq0ytVROJeZR2RoCjWqkEzJwvm8YUl51rughRoCQacQAvD_BwE
Thank you Yvonne…I will check it out!
I memorized these verses years ago . Yes I agree they are two verses to live by . Amen ?
Amen!