Verse of the Day 3/23

Through the Bible - Joshua 11-12, Luke 4:1-41

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll go to the book of Romans to one of the great passages that tells us what "Christian living" is all about.  It speaks of "transformation" and "renewal" instead of conforming to or basically being formed according to the ways of the world around us.

 

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   NKJV
or from the NLT

Rom 12:1 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. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 

 The word for "transformed" is from the Greek word "metamorphoo" which is where we get the word metamorphisis.  It's the picture of a butterfly breaking out of the cocoon to fly.  The only other place that it is used in the New Testament is when Christ was transfigured before Peter, James, and John.

One of the ways that this "transformation" becomes evident is the way that God changes our minds through the trials and challenges that we face or have faced in our lives.  This was brought home to me in a powerful way in a video that was sent to me by a friend in California.

 

If you have a few minutes, please go to the following link.  It may "transform" your thinking today the way God transformed the thinking of these people.

 

http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/

 

Has your mind renewed?

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Rom 12:1-14

A Living Sacrifice to God

12 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. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.  NLT