babysitting anna belle this weekend
need to read for seminary class
need to study for small group
Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Living sacrifice--as opposed to a sacrifice a Jew might offer, a living sacrifice is one that doesn't die on the spot. The symbolism Paul is presenting is for man to offer himself as a sacrifice in the same way that a Jew would offer a burnt offering for a sacrifice. You were never supposed to offer an animal that was second-rate or "spotted." Every burnt offering was supposed to be the best you could afford.
Renewal of your mind--interesting that Paul associates holy living directly with the mind. To live a holy life, a person must change the way they think about things, and that happens by offering up one's self as a "living sacrifice" to God.
To find the will of God, we are supposed to use our "renewed" minds. God does not expect to have to tell us every single step of the way (although He is capable). He expects us to offer ourselves to Him, let Him renew our mind, and then that gives a renewed Christian the ability (along with guidance from the Holy Spirit) to discern the will of God.
God never expects us to be zombies for Him. He expects us to use our renewed minds that lead to discernment. That is how one can know the will of God--those things that are good, acceptable, and perfect.
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