The Word To Live By: 1-6-26
Phil Waggoner
I urge you, 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. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1,2
The Word To Live By: We are talking about steps we take to live our lives by faith. The first one was tied to our confession and the importance of it. What you say about your life matters. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT THE WORLD SAYS ABOUT YOU, OR WHAT YOUR BRAIN SAYS ABOUT YOU if it doesn’t line up with what the Bible says about you. Keep your mouth shut if you can’t say something about your situation that lines up with the Bible. Don’t prophecy about your future if it goes against what the Bible says is your future. There are two general future scriptures I say when things look bleak or when I realize I got off the path of the plan of God for my life. Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11, “God causes all things to work together for my good because I love God, and I’m called according to His purpose.” And “God has plans for my life, plans for good and not for calamity, to give me a future and a hope.” Now, back to Romans 12:1-2. You don’t often hear a teacher put them together, but one has everything to do with the other. James said in chapter 2 that faith without works is dead. He was talking about your behavior, about how you interact daily with people. This is what Paul is talking about in 12:1. In Colossians 3:23 he said, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” Let me put it in everyday circumstances; When you are doing a job that is a terrible job or your boss is a terrible person (I’ve had several of those in my life), do it with a good attitude and a smile on your face. That is presenting your body as a living and holy sacrifice and spiritual worship. When your family makes fun of you and calls you names and doesn’t agree with how you live your life, be kind and merciful in your attitude with them. That is presenting your body as a living and holy sacrifice and spiritual worship. In Luke 6:31, Jesus said, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” (Even when you don’t feel like it.) That is presenting your body as a living and holy sacrifice and spiritual worship. Walking by faith and not by sight is presenting your body as a living sacrifice. I’ll get into verse 2 tomorrow.
Read through the Bible in a year: Luke 8:1-25; Genesis 12; Psalms 6;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 6, Matthew 3:8-17, Acts 6:
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160