Romans 12:1-2 KJV – 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 GWT – Brothers and sisters, because of God’s compassion toward us, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
Our church theme for 2012 is “Preparing for the Overflow.” To prepare for the overflow, I believe that we must allow a transformation to begin in our lives. Prepare means “to put in proper condition or readiness.” Transform means to “change in condition, nature, or character.” By combining these two words and definitions together, we must change our current nature and character to put ourselves in proper condition for the overflow. Paul exhorts us in Romans 12 to present our bodies a living sacrifice and I ask “what are we willing to sacrifice so that Christ can LIVE in us and present God with a vessel that is holy, perfect, and acceptable?”
As I grow in my ministry, I’m learning that something must die for something to live. A sacrifice must be made for the good of others. A seed must be buried for a tree to bear fruit. Livestock must die so that we can have a steaks, filets, and kabobs. Things MUST die so that we can have life. On the cover, a living sacrifice seems to be contradictory. How can something die AND live? As always, Christ is the answer! He came “that we might have life and . . . have it more abundantly” (St. John 10:10 b). Christ became the perfect living sacrifice as He gave His life so that we could live AND He could live eternally in us. If we are to mimic Christ, we must be willing to put others before ourselves; we must be willing to be different; we must be willing give our all to please God. What prevents us from fulfilling our “reasonable service?”
In Romans 8, Paul asks “who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” If we are honest with ourselves, it’s usually us that cause the separation. We “conform” to the things of this world which prevents us being an example of Christ in our day-to-day lives. It was me who didn’t take time to pray before I left for work. It was me who chose to surf the web instead of reading or meditating on His scriptures. It was me who chose not to fast and pray. It is generally me. I’m the cause of the separation because I struggle at times to go the extra mile for Christ. What’s more important to us, our selfish desires or God’s will?
In good times and bad, I MUST “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3).” Our way of thinking MUST change. We may have to spend less time looking at TV and spend more time meditating on His word. We may have to let some friends go that only concentrate on partying, smoking, drinking, lying, stealing, fornicating, or other things of this world. We may have to refuse the overtime, and put in some extra time in the house of the Lord! What’s greater, the sacrifice or the blessing? When our sole focus is to please God, then our needs and desires becomes God’s sole focus. That is such an awesome thought. When I concentrate on my own desires, I can only do so much. However, when God concentrates on my needs and desires, ALL things are possible!
I want God to overflow in EVERY aspect of my life, including my family, my spiritual walk, my relationship with Him, my job, my finances, my giving, my mind, my ministry, my health and everywhere His overflow spreads, but I must be willing to continuously allow Him to transform things in my life. That means I must crucify this flesh daily. That means I must make Him my primary focus daily. That means I must be willing to let go of things that may cause a separation. That means I must be willing to chase after Him. That means I must have an earnest desire to please Him. I’m striving to be a living sacrifice. I’m striving for holiness. I’m striving to be acceptable to God. How about you?
Let The Transformation Begin!
Humbly Submitted,
Minister Eugene C. McCown, Jr.