Food for thought before the new year!

My, how the time flies! It seems we were here, just a year ago! In all reality, when I reflect to where I was a year ago, I have to look through binoculars! I have grown and stretched and moved and cried and shouted for joy and loved and shared. I went from high school senior to an Iowa State freshman! I've become more of my own person, and continually growing in the Lord.

Now here's the food. Pay attention. Similar to paying closer attention to a quiet person, some of the most important stuff is super small. (Make the screen bigger if you need to.) :)

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies 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."

I'm going to break it down. "Therefore I urge you, brethren..." Paul can't force anyone to do this, but it must come from our own will. "...by the mercies of God..." We can't do anything without God. "...to present..." This is a decisive decision, not something done on a whim. "...your bodies a living and holy sacrifice..." Holy means 'set apart'; it can't be a common sacrifice. A living sacrifice contrasts the dead animal sacrifices made those many years ago. "...acceptable to God..." Not something that we think is enough; He gave His all. Is He worth less than our best? "...which is your spiritual service of worship." This act is intelligent. This act is rational. This act is deliberate. This is not an act done without much thought; think of the time Old Testament priests would spend repenting for all their sins before going into the inner temple, before the throne of God. Today, we can go into His inner temple with each prayer, but He deserves pure hearts. "God loves a cheerful giver." Verse 2: "And do not be conformed to this world..." Everyday is a struggle to break free from this world and follow God. Paul encourages us to take the narrow path. "...but be transformed..." You can't help but transform when you follow the Lord. It's a continual thing, too. Everyday is new. "His mercies are new in the morning"  "... by the renewing..." Just like you can't take a new path with the old map; you can't be in the light without hitting the 'refresh' button. "...of your mind..." Every action began in your mind. No matter what you want to think, every good and bad deed began in your mind. With a new mindset, you can begin your transformation. "...so that you may prove..." People will challenge you. This isn't an easy task. You can't just pay lip service to this, no matter how easy it is. You have to continually prove that you are His, and that you are doing everything to maintain that relationship. "...what the will of God is..." You aren't doing this for you, you're doing it because your love for Him compels you to action. You're doing it because you want the absolute best. "...that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Everything we do should be to glorify God. (Phil. 4:8) Through focusing all our effort on Him, our actions will continue to grow and produce things that are good, acceptable, and perfect in perfect alliance with His will. 


I hope you all continue to grow in the Lord this new year. Enjoy the world coming to an end! (just kidding!)