Dr Paul Allen

As followers of Jesus, the best thing we can celebrate together is the beauty of the great love and grace that Christ has shown us. Because of his great mercies, our proper response is to be what Paul calls a “living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1. The words “living sacrifice” together don’t make much sense at first. It’s actually an oxymoron. But reading Paul’s words in Romans just before this verse, we understand that this isn’t the case. We are alive in Christ because we begin to live solely led by his desires and purposes for us. We are also an offering to God because we have chosen to sacrifice our way and plans for the better ones God has for us.  Of course, we realize that, because of our flesh, this is a highly tricky prospect.  Thankfully, the verse continues to reveal how this can happen: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2).

Image via Wikipedia "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." ( Romans 12:1-2 )   A true follower of Christ knows His will and submits to it. His will has ever deeper stages, but once we surrender our own body, mind, and will to His will, we will "prove" it to be "perfect."    God may give us a burden to accomplish a task or a life's work, and then open and shut doors to make it possible.  Discerning His will has never been easy, but we must seek earnestly to know it and follow it. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord