"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-3
NIV)
The three significant phrases of this passage are: (1) offer your
bodies; (2) the pattern of this world; and (3) test and approve.
Offering our bodies to the service of Christ is the theme of the
Casting Crowns song, "If We Are the Body." Offering our bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God includes using our hands and
smile and voice to greet a stranger. Offering our bodies includes
offering our physical strength to help someone in some way. Offering
our bodies includes offering our legs and feet to walk around our
neighborhood passing out fliers advertising our church or passing out
tracts. Offering our bodies includes offering our voice to the Holy
Spirit to proclaim the kingdom of god and teach about the Lord Jesus
Christ.
The pattern of this world includes spending time watching TV,
playing sporting games like basketball, gossiping, evaluating others
based on their appearance, giving money to a charity without really
know just what that charity stands for or does. The world does these
things and thinks it is all just fine. But Paul tells us to no longer
conform to what the world does and thinks. Instead, we are to be
transformed into new creations by giving our minds to the Holy Spirit
so that he may renew it - that is, literally, make it new. Giving us a
new way of thinking and acting. A way which is pleasing to God, not to
the world.
And then, through constant study of the Bible, prayer, meditation,
and consultation with fellow Christians, we must use the tools of the
Holy Spirit to test and approve what we think and do. In this way we
will always be certain that we are doing the good and perfect will of
God.
Peace.