Transformed

Happy Sunday!

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."(Romans 12:1-2 Phillips).

God is all about proof!  If you believe and trust Him there should be evidence in your life.  Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."(John 14:15 KJV).  I enjoy renovation shows, and most things with Before and After pictures.  It's encouraging to see how a house, a car, or a human body can be transformed.  But any transformation requires action.  For a house it may require gutting the interior, rebuilding walls, replacing flooring, and painting. For a car it may require replacing parts, fabricating other parts, sanding and painting.  For a human body it may require a change of mind, exercise, a change in eating habits, and refusing things that are detrimental to health. 

Romans 12:1 in the Living Bible says, "And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?"  Sacrifices in the Old Testament had to be perfect.  No blemishes, no defects, and no injuries.  The Prophet Malachi rebuked the people for not bringing their best to God.  “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you."(Malachi 1:8 Message).

We don't have to bring live animals to God anymore because Jesus became the Ultimate Sacrifice.  BUT God wants our lives.  When we give Him our lives he blesses us exceedingly abundantly more than we can ever ask, think, or imagine!(Ephesians 3:20).  He renovates, and improves our lives and everyone can see the Before and After!

Love and prayers, Cynthia