"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, which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2


According to Romans 12:1 we are to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. God presented the body of His only Son for all mankind to be reconciled to Himself. Remembering His act of love for us makes Romans 12:1 a reasonable request.

The instruction that follows is for us as His children not to be conformed to the world we live in. We, however, are to be transformed by renewing our minds with His great and precious promises along with the guidance of divine wisdom found in His laws. To be transformed is a continual process of change from the inside out. The end result is a life fulfilling the will of God which is good, acceptable, and perfect. Who doesn’t want that!

We know this process comes with great cost to our natural desires. We are warned in the last days not to become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and His laws. (2 Timothy 3:4) Considering the present condition of our nation we need to look at what God’s Word says about obeying man as opposed to God. We are all familiar with Romans 13:1-2 where we are instructed to obey the government and those in authority. However, we must look at the whole counsel of God. When man’s laws go against God’s laws we are to obey God’s divine laws. Galatians 1:10 states:

"For am I now seeking the favor of man, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."

When we read the third chapter of Daniel we see him refusing to worship a false idol the King had set up. In this case Daniel and His friends were miraculously delivered from the fiery furnace, but we know many have given their lives to obey God, and to prove His good, acceptable, and perfect will for their lives.

As we ponder our sobering scriptures today let us resolve to daily present our bodies before God while choosing to become His bond slaves as those who have gone before us. May we realize we cannot allow ourselves to conform to this world or its laws that are in defiance of God’s divine laws. We must renew our minds daily with His statutes. And most importantly let us not perform legalistic, religious acts, but be motivated by our love for our wonderful God as we totally trust in His love for us. His will for our lives will prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect — always.
In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

www.masterpiecefitness.com

276-237-6680

This is why I choose to live where I do! A breathtaking display of winter beauty in our mountains!