Devotion from Romans 12:1-3
Dear friends:
This past week we heard about a mass shooting in Nova Scotia. The largest mass killing this country has ever experienced. As of today the death total stands at 22 people. Innocent people killed for no known reasons. In the days to come we may hear more about the killer but for the most part we don’t know what really led to his actions. It’s often in difficult situations of life that our heart exposes us for who we really are.
That leads me into this passage I want to look at in Romans 12:1-3.
In Romans chapter 12 Paul moves from teaching doctrine to applying doctrine.
The word “therefore” is a reference to what has been previously taught. Unless knowledge is applied and put into action it just remains a matter of intellect. But for Christians the Holy Spirit uses this knowledge and puts it into action.
Believers are:
- Justified by faith
- Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
- Born again for purpose
- Live in obedience to the Word
The greatest motivator for Christian service is God’s mercy and Grace which is revealed through personal soul salvation.
So how do we ready ourselves for Action?
- Dying to self:
As an act of worship we surrender our lives to Him.
Galatians 2:20 Romans 6:12-13
Worship cannot take place until a funeral takes place. Paul references the old testament animal sacrifices that took place in the temple which are now replaced by the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
- A transformed mind:
What and how you think often leads to how you act.
Romans 1:18-32 describes a depraved mind.
Believers need to guard their minds by guarding what they read, who they spend time with, what they view, what they read, where they spend their time and money. Ephesians 4:17-24 prescribes what a transformed mind needs to guard against.
- Servant attitude:
Attitude greatly affects life. Attitude is revealed at infancy and stays with us until the Lord takes us home. Believers need an attitude adjustment from time to time. Difficult circumstances in life often reveal our attitude. That is why humility is so important, it checks our attitude. The Bible talks about our attitude being like that of Jesus who humbled himself to the death of the cross.
Summing it all up:
Followers of Jesus
Need to surrender their lives
Purify their minds
Have an attitude of humility.
As I write these words I apply them to my own life. Without Christ transforming our lives we are all capable of performing horrendous acts of sin not unlike anything we hear on the news today.
We have so much to be grateful for because of our salvation.
We have so much to live for because of our salvation.
We have so much to die for because of our salvation.
God bless you friends as you consider these truths and apply them to your lives,
Pastor Larry
Thank You for your post. We do have so much to be grateful for thanks to Jesus sacrifice. And I do shudder to think of what a selfish man I would be without knowing him and having him in my life.