11 starting at verse 33.
Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has ever been his counsellor?
Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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.
Father, thank you for your word, for its truth.
Father, thank you for your word.
And we humbly submit to that truth right now.
Asking that your word would indeed shape us,
shape our minds and our hearts,
mould us and fashion us,
so that we are people who follow not our own hearts' desires,
but seek to do your will.
Father, we pray for Michael that he would know your spirit at work through him
and your spirit amongst us,
so that as we listen,
we would indeed all be transformed
and changed.
We pray this in your name.
Amen.
Well, happy new year to you all.
It's not too late to wish you a happy new year.
But as I look around the congregation this morning,
I see that there were one or two of you here this morning
that were also in Middleton last week when I was preaching.
So if you've heard this message before,
is going to be underlined for you today.
And if you didn't take notice of it last week,
I pray that you'll take notice of it this week
and that we'll all be blessed together
as we consider God's word.
We're going to be looking at,
in particular,
Romans chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2.
Last week I began,
as I'm going to begin this week,
what can we expect in 2017?
Well, we know certain things, don't we?
Things that are very, very obvious
and some things that were laid out
a long time ago.
We know that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
will continue to grow
because no one ever ceases to be a member
of the church of Christ,
not even in death.
So we do know that the number,
the no man can number,
will continue to be made up
during 2017.
We also know from Scripture
that there will be wars
and rumours of wars.
We can expect that.
Nothing will change.
And as a result,
there will be refugees,
there will be famines.
And to sort it all out,
we have Donald Trump
becoming president
in the States.
What a great thing to look forward to.
Well, we also have the consequences
of Brexit,
what that will mean,
and what it will mean
for each one of us
as individuals.
Some of us, perhaps,
will be sitting on a leaving cert,
entering new jobs.
Perhaps some of us
will be made redundant.
Some of us will get
a better rise
in our wages.
Some of us
might face bankruptcy.
Who knows?
Some of us with good health
through the coming year.
Some
may have sickness.
Some may be getting married.
Some may be having children.
All of these things
will happen in the year
that lies ahead.
They're there for us.
And we know that
for us as believers
there will be difficulties
to encounter
because we know,
again from Scripture,
that in this world
there will be tribulation.
But how are you and I
to face the new year
as Christians?
How are we to go forward
into the months
that lie ahead?
Well, we're to go forward
as God's people,
never forgetting for a moment
that we are God's people,
that we have been bought
with a price
and that price
is the precious blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And I would urge you
as you go through
the year that lies ahead
to view the coming year
with a mind
that is in tune
with Romans chapter 12
and verses 1 and 2.
It's an opportunity for us
to live as Christians
before a watching world
as those that are indeed
living sacrifices.
And I want us to just look
at these two verses
under three headings.
It's been emphasized
already
that we are a people
that have received mercy.
And the Apostle Paul
here makes his appeal
to the believers at Rome
and to us today
to live our lives
in the light of the mercy
that we have received.
You notice that verse 12,
verse 1 of chapter 12 of Romans
begins with a therefore.
And as somebody has pointed out
that it is there for a reason.
It is there to tell us
that Paul has already brought before us
the glories of the gospel.
He breaks out an appeal of praise
as he reflects on that gospel
in verse 33 of the previous chapter.
But he's been expounding the gospel.
He's been explaining
what the gospel is.
And saying that as a result
of this gospel
that they have received,
that there is a therefore.
There are certain consequences.
So if we have accepted
the truth of the gospel
this morning,
we can no longer live
to please self.
We must be a people
that are ready
to offer ourselves to God
totally and utterly.
Those who have received
the revelation,
that is the truth of the gospel,
must always be ready
to act upon it.
We are saved
to serve.
Each one of us.
The gospel
is about the mercy
that we have received
from God.
Mercy comes
from Him.
Where do we hear
about this mercy?
We hear about it
in the gospel.
If you go back
to Romans chapter 1
and verse 1,
Paul refers to it
as the gospel of God.
It comes from God.
He's the initiator
of the gospel.
Or, if you like,
the architect
of the gospel.
The gospel is not
something new.
It is something
that was announced
on the pages
of the Old Testament.
Whether God promised
a Savior
who would come
into the world,
His very own Son.
The gospel of God
tells us
that God
sent His Son
into the world.
Truly God.
But born of a woman,
of the tribe of David,
truly man.
And through the death
of this God-man,
through His death
and through His resurrection,
salvation would come
into the world.
Or to put it another way,
God the Father
would send His Son
that mercy
might be shown
to you and I.
So notice
our text
again this morning.
Therefore,
says the apostle,
I urge you,
brothers,
in view
of God's
mercy
to offer
your bodies
as living
sacrifices.
Well,
what is the mercy
that you
and I
have been shown?
What does
the gospel
of God
tell us
of this mercy?
Well,
we can't possibly
go through
all of Romans.
Every page
tells us
something
of the mercy
of God.
But let me highlight
just one or two ways
in which God
has been
merciful
to you
and to I
and myself.
He has
shown
mercy to us
as
sinners.
The overriding
truth
is that God
has been
merciful
to you
and to me.
That's the very
heart
of the gospel.
Each of us
here this morning
was born
in sin.
Each of us
was under
the wrath
of God.
The apostle Paul
tells us that
in Romans 1
and verse 18.
And he continues
right through
to chapter 3
and verse 20
to show
that man,
whether he's
Jew
or whether
he's Gentile,
is under
the wrath
of an almighty
God.
All of us
left to ourselves
would end up
in a lost
eternity
in a place
called hell.
Paul reaches
a conclusion
in chapter 3
and verse 10
that there is
none righteous,
not even
one.
You see,
each one
of us
are steeped
in sin,
naturally
speaking.
But God
has shown
mercy
to us.
And so
if we're
Christians
this morning,
it is because
God has shown
mercy to you
and to me.
As sinners,
we have been
saved by the
grace of God.
God.
Now let's
remember
who is
writing
this particular
letter.
It is not
just any
person.
This is the
apostle of
God.
This is one
who was
chosen by
God to
bring us
God's
truth.
And he's
writing from
a perspective
not only of
us as an
apostle bringing
the truth of
God to us,
he's writing
this letter
as one
who has
himself
been shown
mercy.
We know
something of
the story of
the apostle,
of course,
how he was
on the road
to Damascus,
how he was
ready to put
Christians in
prison,
and earlier
he had been
present and
had raised
his hand
when Stephen
was on trial
for his very
life,
that Stephen
should be
stoned to
death.
Yes,
said this
man,
he should
be put
to death.
And he
looked after
the coats
of those
who had
thrown
stones
at Stephen.
But God
showed
mercy
to him.
We read
about it
in 1 Timothy
chapter 1
and verses
12 to 14.
This is what
he says,
I thank
Christ Jesus
our Lord
who has
given me
strength
that he
considered
me faithful,
appointing me
to his
service.
Even
though I
was once
a blasphemer
and a
persecutor
and a
violent man,
I was
shown
mercy
because I
acted in
ignorance
and unbelief.
The grace
of the Lord
was poured
out on me
abundantly
along with
the faith
and love
that are
in Christ
Jesus.
Paul says,
I was
shown
mercy
and every
Christian
has been
shown
mercy.
Therefore,
I urge you
in the light
of this
to be
living
sacrifices.
But not
only does
the Apostle
Paul tell
us about
mercy shown
to sinners,
he shows
us that
this mercy
makes
every believer
righteous
in the sight
of God.
He writes
in chapter
1 of
Romans
in verse
17,
he says,
a righteousness
that is
by faith
from first
to last.
And he
speaks
more profoundly
and in
more fullness
in chapter
3,
verses
21
to
chapter
4.
And what
does he
tell us
in this
particular
chapter?
He
tells us
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
as a
substitute
for sinners.
He speaks
of the
perfect
one
going to
the cross
of Calvary.
And he
speaks about
the wrath
of God
being poured
out upon
him.
He says
this,
God
presented
him
as a
sacrifice
of atonement.
A better
word there
is
propitiation.
I know
it's a
longer
word,
but it
expresses
precisely
what is
happening
here.
That the
Lord Jesus
was the
one
who
turned
aside
the
wrath
of God
that was
deserved
by people
like you
and I.
And so
the Lord
Jesus
hangs
on the
cross
at Calvary.
the
anger
of God
is
poured
out
against
him.
And he
cries
as his
anger
is
poured
out,
My
God,
my
God,
why
have
you
forsaken
me?
And if you're
a Christian
this morning,
you have
looked to
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
as the
only
Saviour
for your
sins.
You have
looked upon
him as
your
substitute,
as the
only one
who could
remove the
wrath of
God
from you.
But the
moment you
look to
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
something
wonderful
happened.
Not only
was your
sin
completely
removed
from you
because the
blood of
Christ
cleanses
from all
sin,
but the
moment you
look to
Christ,
the
perfect
righteousness
of Christ
was put
to your
account.
You were
counted
righteous
in the
sight of
God.
What
mercy
that
sinners
such as
ourselves
could have
upon their
very own
selves
the very
righteousness
of Christ.
But that's
what happened.
That's
mercy.
And in
the light
of that,
therefore,
I urge you
to present
yourselves as
living
sacrifices.
Mercy
also tells
us that
we are
united
with
Christ.
And being
united with
Christ,
we are set
free
from bondage
to sin.
Every
believer
has been
given a
resurrection
life.
And in
chapter 6
of Romans,
Paul speaks
about our
union with
Christ.
In those
early verses
of the chapter,
verses 1 to
3, he says
we're united
with Christ.
When Christ
died,
you died
in Him.
You were
buried
with Him.
And then
you rose
again in
Him.
We are
in
Christ,
united in
His death
and in
His
resurrection.
And because
we are united
with Christ
in His
death
and
resurrection,
we're told
in Romans
6 and
verse 11
that we
can count
ourselves
dead
to sin.
but alive
to God
in Christ
Jesus.
What
mercy!
What
grace!
Therefore,
I urge
you
to give
your lives
entirely
to Him.
We sang
it earlier,
didn't we?
Long
my
imprisoned
spirit
lay,
fast bound
in sin
and nature's
night,
then I
diffused
a quickening
ray.
I woke
the dungeons
flamed with
light.
My chains
fell off.
My heart
was free.
I rose,
went forth
and followed
thee.
This was
Wesley's
experience.
And it is
the experience
of every
Christian
because he
has been
shown
mercy.
Therefore,
I urge
you.
There's
more.
it's
a mercy
that makes
you and
I sons
and daughters
of God.
That's
what Paul
says in
Romans 8.
Every
Christian
is a
child
of God
through
the work
of God
the Holy
Spirit.
In
verse 15
of Romans
8,
he said,
it is
by the
Spirit
that we
can cry
Abba
Father.
And because
of this
relationship
that we
have as
a son
and daughter
of God,
we are
part of
the very
family of
God.
And being
part of
the family
of God,
the Apostle
tells us
in verse
38 of
chapter 8,
that nothing,
but nothing,
can separate
us from
the love
of God,
which is
in Christ
Jesus
our
Lord.
What
mercy
has been
shown to
you and
to me?
Therefore,
I urge
you to
present
yourselves.
One more
thing.
Here is
a mercy
that was
planned
in
eternity.
Paul
allows us
a glimpse,
if you like,
behind the
scenes.
he allows
us to
see something
of God's
eternal
plan.
And he
tells us
in chapter
9 and
verse 15,
that God
is sovereign.
I will
have mercy
on whom
I will
have mercy.
And I
will have
compassion
on whom
I will
have
compassion.
He tells
us he
chose a
worm
like
Jacob.
He
foreloved
him.
He
elected
him.
Before
Jacob
had done
good or
evil,
God
set his
love
upon
him.
And
this is
true,
not just
of Jacob,
it's true
of every
Christian
here this
morning.
If you're
a Christian,
if you ever
ask the
question,
why me?
they're
members of
my family
who are
not
Christians,
why did
God
love
me?
I was
living like
they were.
Why did
God love
me?
Well,
he loved
you
because he
chose to
love you.
And we
love God
only because
he first
loved us.
Therefore,
I urge
you,
in the
light that
you have
been shown
mercy,
to offer
yourselves as
living
sacrifices
unto God.
That God
has saved
you,
a sinner,
in view
of his
sacrifice
for your
sin,
in view
of the
fact that
you have
been made
righteous
with the
righteousness
of Christ,
in view
of your
union with
Christ,
setting you
free from
the bond
of sin,
in view
of the
fact that
nothing can
separate you
from the
love of
God as
his child,
in view
of his
eternal
love,
and we
could go
further to
think of
his daily
mercies,
his keeping
mercies.
Therefore,
offer your
bodies as
living
sacrifices.
In view
of such
mercy,
then,
you are
asked to
show
yourselves
as
sacrifices.
So,
our second
point is
this,
that the
sacrifice
is expected
of each
believer
here this
morning.
And it's
on the
basis of
God's
mercy that
Paul makes
his
appeal.
Therefore,
for this
reason,
I urge
every
Christian,
brothers,
sisters,
old,
young,
to live
your life
wholeheartedly
for God.
Now,
I would
suggest that
here in the
West,
we know
very little
of sacrifice.
sacrifice.
The greatest
sacrifice we
might make
is getting
out of our
warm beds
on a Sunday
morning when
it's cold
outside.
We know
very little
of sacrifice.
Others,
as we shall
discover in a
moment,
know a
great deal
more than
we do.
But on
the basis
of God's
mercy,
we should
all be
ready to
make the
ultimate
sacrifice.
And it
should be
a
thank-offering
sacrifice.
That's the
kind of
sacrifice
that is
being asked
of here.
In the
Old Testament,
of course,
an animal
was killed.
People
offered
a
sacrifice.
And it
looked forward
to the
ultimate
sacrifice of
the Lord
Jesus Christ
himself.
But the
Old Testament
also had
another
kind of
sacrifice.
Although an
animal died,
it was
referred to
as a
thanksgiving
sacrifice.
It was
part of
a mercy
sacrifice,
a way in
which you
offered
your love
to the
Lord.
It was
something
very personal,
a peace
offering to
God,
if you like.
like.
And we
have it
referred to
in Psalm
116
and verse
1,
where the
apostle,
where the
psalmist
says,
I love
the Lord,
for he
heard my
voice,
he heard
my cry
for mercy.
And he
goes on
in that
particular
psalm
to say
how the
Lord has
shown
mercy to
him.
The
Lord has
delivered him
from his
enemies,
etc.
What can
he do
then in
response to
God's
loving
kindness?
What can
he give
as an
offering to
God for
his tender
mercies?
And he
tells us
in verse
17 of
Psalm
116,
he says,
I will
sacrifice a
thank offering
to you
and call
on the
name of
the Lord.
He
didn't
have to,
but he
wanted to
show his
love for
the Lord
who had
been merciful,
who had
been kind
to him.
I will
offer you
the sacrifice
of praise,
a thank
offering
to you
for what
you have
done for
me.
And that's
what the
Lord requires
of you
and I.
It is a
glad and
willing
sacrifice
to him,
a living
sacrifice.
But it
is a
sacrifice.
Now we
all make
sacrifices.
What do
we make
sacrifices
for?
Well, we
perhaps make
sacrifices for
ourselves.
We make
sacrifices for
our family.
we make
sacrifices
to put
more money
in the
bank,
perhaps,
to have
more power
to gain
material
things,
to get
ourselves a
bigger or
better house
or promotion.
We can
make sacrifices
to promote
our own
ego.
A boy
makes a
sacrifice for
his girlfriend
and vice
versa.
But what
about this
living sacrifice
for the
one who
has shown
us such
mercy?
Do we
make a
sacrifice
as far as
our income
is concerned?
Will we
bring our
tithes and
our offerings
to him
gladly and
willingly?
How about
our service
to others?
Are we
ready to
go the
extra mile?
Do we
stay quiet
in our
places of
work because
we're unwilling
to make
the sacrifice
that people
might laugh
at us if
we speak
of a
saviour who
died to
save us
from our
sin?
How about
the sacrifice
of being
ready and
willing to
lay down
our lives
for the
Lord Jesus?
How about
the sacrifice
if we are
called into
missionary work?
Are we
ready to
give up the
comforts of
home for
him who
loved us
and gave
himself for
us?
Are we
ready to
hear the
command of
the Lord
Jesus Christ
himself?
He's not
speaking just
of an
occasional
Christian
or a
special kind
of Christian.
He's
speaking to
every
believer.
And he
says in
Romans 9
and verse
23
these words.
He said
to them
all,
if anyone
would come
after me,
he must
deny himself
and take
up his
cross daily
and follow
me.
For whoever
wants to
save his
life will
lose it.
But whoever
loses his
life for me
will save
it.
What good
is it for
a man to
gain the
whole world
and yet
lose or
forfeit
his very
self?
To take
up our
cross.
That means
being ready
to suffer.
It's being
ready to
sacrifice.
And Jesus
says, if you
would follow
me, this
is what
is required
of me.
there was
a man
who was
a
missionary,
Jim
Elliott,
who was
actually
martyred
out in
the jungle.
And he
said this,
he is
no fool
who gives
up what
he cannot
keep
to gain
that
which he
cannot
lose.
Sacrifice.
I picked
up
the
evangelicals
now when
I was
in
Belfast.
I want
to read
just a
few lines.
It's
entitled
Ethiopia,
Christian
girls
singing
in
prison.
Three
teenage
Christian
girls.
One
15,
one
14,
and
another
14,
together
with an
older
girl,
were
sentenced
to
prison
for
distributing
Christian
literature.
One of
them
was
beaten
in
prison.
And this
is what
we read
at the
end of
the
article.
Eden
suffered
a beating
on her
first night
in prison.
And then
we have
their own
words.
This
suffering,
they said,
is an
honour
for us.
We should
expect
persecution.
We are
not afraid.
We are
singing
and praying
here in
prison.
Eden
said,
it is
an honour
to be
jailed
for God's
kingdom.
sacrifice.
The
presentation
of our
whole
selves.
Our
minds.
We will
have more
to say
about that
in a
moment.
We can
fill our
minds
with
rubbish.
Or we
can fill
our minds
with that
which is
good and
offer it
up to
God.
Our
eyes and
our ears,
what do
we see?
What
occupies
our
hearing?
Can we
offer
our eyes
and our
ears as
a spiritual
act of
worship?
How about
our tongues?
Only a
little member
we are told
by James.
It's a
fire.
Who can
tame it?
But we
can offer
what we
say to
God and
we can
pray for
that
sanctification
of our
tongues,
that we
will use
our tongues
to be
witnesses
in the
world in
which we
live,
in pointing
our fellow
men to
the one
who has
shown us
mercy.
How are
we using
our hands
and our
feet?
Are we
working with
our hands
to the
glory of
God?
And are
our feet
being used
to bring
the gospel
of peace
to those
out there
who have
no peace?
the apostle
Paul,
again,
writing to
the Romans
in chapter
6 and
verses 14
to 16
says these
words,
or verse
12 rather,
sin shall
not be your
master,
because you
are not
able to
obey its
desires.
Do not offer
the parts of your
body to sin as
instruments of
wickedness,
but rather offer
yourselves to
God as those
who have been
brought from
death to
life,
and offer the
parts of your
body to
him as
instruments of
righteousness,
for sin shall
not be your
master,
because you
are not
under law,
but under
grace,
to offer
ourselves
utterly and
completely,
the whole
of ourselves,
which is our
spiritual act
of worship.
It is holy
and pleasing
to God,
or as the
authorised
version has
it,
it's our
reasonable
service.
In other
words,
to give
ourselves
wholeheartedly
to God
is the
most logical
thing we
could ever
do.
It's the
most rational.
If our
minds have
embraced what
God has
done,
what can
we do
in return?
Well,
logic would
surely say,
take my
life and
let it be
consecrated,
Lord,
to thee.
Take myself
and I
will be
ever only
for my
king.
Living
sacrifices
in the
light of
God's
mercies,
offer
yourselves
as
living
sacrifices.
And our
final heading
this morning
is that
we enter
1917
as those
whose
minds are
being
changed.
See
again
Romans
chapter
12
and
verses
verse 2.
Here the
apostle Paul
makes it
very clear.
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.
Be ready
to be
different.
That's what
the apostle
Paul is
saying.
To be
those living
sacrifices
that will
be noticed
by others.
J.B.
Phillips
in his
translation
of this
verse,
the early
part of
it says,
don't be
squeezed
into the
world's
mould.
Do not
conform any
longer to
the pattern
of this
world.
There's a
thinking out
there,
and the
thinking out
there would
press you
into its
mould.
We're living
in a
secular
world,
and it's
not easy
to run
our lives
contrary
to that
world.
But we
are to
be
different.
The world
out there
will say
everybody
is behaving
in a
particular
way.
Why
shouldn't
I?
Why
should I
be
different?
Young
people are
saying,
I'm
sleeping
with my
girlfriend,
my
boyfriend.
What
does it
matter?
You
have your
opinion,
I have
mine.
No
absolutes.
It's
okay,
because
everybody
is doing
it,
and I'm
not hurting
anybody,
and I
love,
and sad
to say,
I've even
heard people
saying,
I prayed
about it.
Don't be
conformed
to this
world.
My
friends,
be
different.
Be
different to
the world
around you.
You
will be
under
pressure
to conform
to this
world.
Young
people
will.
Fathers
will.
Mothers
will.
And it
doesn't
stop when
you get
old.
We'll be
bombarded
today,
and we'll
be
bombarded
tomorrow and
the next
day,
throughout
2017,
to be
conformed.
But don't
be conformed
to this
world.
Be
transformed.
Maybe you
are being
squeezed at
this particular
moment to
compromise
your Christian
faith.
And maybe
some of you
are continuing
in your
unchristian
ways.
And I
ask you,
and challenge
you this
morning,
is it
making you
happy?
Are you
contented?
Mark this,
there's so
many people
that have
gone the
world's
way,
and their
lives have
ended up
messed up.
Messed up.
The world
will look at
you.
It will
embrace you,
and you
go along
with it,
and it
will destroy
you,
and it
won't take
a blind
bit of
notice.
That's
the
reality.
Be
different.
Have a
mind that
is conformed
to the
truth of
God's
word.
Be
transformed
by the
renewing of
your mind.
When the
Lord Jesus
was on the
Mount of
Transfiguration,
we're told
he was
transformed
before them.
It's
exactly the
same word.
It's
metamorphosis.
It's the
same thing
that happens
to a
caterpillar
when it
turns into
a butterfly.
A
metamorphosis.
A
complete
change.
Something
that is
absolutely
different.
The
Apostle Paul
knew about
this.
He says,
we have
the mind
of Christ.
We have
the mind
of Christ.
Now,
how can you
and I
have the
mind of
Christ?
Only by
our minds
being changed.
It begins
when we're
born again
of the
Holy Spirit.
And it
continues
through our
lifetime
till that
day that
we're
presented
absolutely
perfect
in Christ.
And it
will happen.
But there's
this process
whereby we
are transformed
into
His
likeness.
It begins,
it will have
a conclusion.
But how
will it
happen?
It will
happen
through God's
providence.
He will
send us
through
difficult
times,
hard times,
in order
that the
dross in
us will
be refined.
I remember
a word of
personal
testimony
here.
As a
young
pastor,
being asked
to involve
myself with
some folks
in England,
it would
give me a
little bit
extra money.
It wasn't
particularly
Christian work,
it wasn't
non-Christian
in that sense.
But I
thought whether
it would
give me some
extra money.
But I
shouldn't have
been involved
and I
listened and
it ended
up as a
disaster.
It was the
greatest thing
that ever
happened to
me.
It taught
me so
much.
God took
me through
that in
order that
certain dross
in me might
be removed.
And He
constantly does
that in
our lives
through His
providence
and sending
difficulties
into our
lives.
But God
also works
through His
Word.
Sanctify them
says the
Lord Jesus
through your
truth.
Your Word
is truth.
So read
this Word,
study this
Word,
listen to
this Word
and it is
proclaimed
week by
week.
so that
your mind
might be
informed,
that you
will recognize
that God
is speaking
to you
through His
Word.
That God
is speaking
to you
through the
Word made
flesh,
our Lord
and Savior
Jesus Christ.
So that
your minds
are informed
and the
Spirit Himself
impresses that
Word upon
your mind
so that
your minds
are made
more like
unto the
mind of
God,
that you
will be
holy as
He is
holy.
Do you
find yourself
at times
disagreeing
with God's
Word?
No doubt
you do.
I can't
believe that
or surely
that's not
true.
My friends,
it's not
this that
is at
fault.
It is
your mind
that's
at fault.
let this
Word transform
you and
don't let
it match
your thinking.
Rather,
let hate
influence
your thinking
so that
your mind
is informed.
And all
this will
have the
result that
your mind
will be
changed and
you will be
able under
God's goodness
to test and
approve what
God's will
is.
His good
pleasing
and perfect
will.
God
isn't
putting you
into
a situation
that is
hard and
difficult.
He's putting
you into
a situation
where gladly
and willingly
you see that
His ways
are best.
If it's
good for
Him,
it's going
to be good
for you.
If it's
pleasing to
Him,
it's going
to be pleasing
to you.
Paul is
arguing,
yes,
you've
received
mercy.
In the
light of
that mercy,
offer
yourselves.
And as
you offer
yourselves,
pray that
your mind
might be
changed.
And that's
how to
live
through
2017.
May the
Lord help
us,
each one,
to be
the
Christians
that we
all ought
to be.
To His
praise and
glory.
Amen.