Good morning. We are in Romans in the super chapter 12. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. I'm sure you've heard many great messages on that passage. The priests would present dead bodies as a sacrifice to God; ours are to be living bodies as a holy sacrifice. We just have to make sure we don't get up off the altar. And do not be conformed to this world. That is what too many Christians are doing today. They try to be like those around them. It looks like the world is having fun. It is; but there are dire consequences. Instead: be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. The word translated transformed is also translated metamorphosis - just like a caterpillar into a butterfly. That's the key – your mind. Your mind has to quit thinking like a caterpillar (someone in the world); rather think like God does. And why should we do this? To prove that it is God's will that we act and think like Him. That is what is good, acceptable, and perfect. In the context, it is not talking about the will of God in general; however it is true in general. That's why I don't like the term "permissive will" of God. I know what they mean; but to me if it's not good, not acceptable, or not perfect, it is not the will of God. The word will implies desire; and it is not God's desire that we have less than the best. I don't know; perhaps something like the permissive boundaries of God. Through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself then he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. There are too many Christians who think more highly of themselves then they ought to. If we have anything, it's from God. No matter how great a ministry you have, it's not you – it's God. Father thank You that the reader is a living and holy sacrifice to You; he/she is acceptable to You. He/she is transformed by the renewing of his/her mind. He/she proves what Your will is – that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

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