Romans 12:1-2, “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.”
After Paul has spent the first half of the letter to the church at Rome giving them sound doctrine, we find these verses at the turning point where he begins with a practical application. He begins to answer the question, “What should be the believer’s attitude toward God?” Paul emphasizes how important it is that we understand this principle with the opening phrase, “I beseech you,” which might as well say, “You’ve got to believe me!” The idea that a believer would surrender themselves wholly to the Lord is not something Paul considers radical, but elementary to the born-again believer.
Paul doesn’t just tell us what the goal is – the living sacrifice – he gives us practical steps on what not to do and what to do if we are going to succeed: Do not let the world tell you who you are! You have been bought with a price, and that price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit transform you and change who you are into the likeness of Christ, and in so doing, you will be ready to move forward discerning God’s will for your life.
