At the church picnic this past Sunday, Pastor Ben talked to the congregation about Romans 12 and the importance of change, how challenging it is, and what it is that motivates us to change.

Romans 12

1 Therefore, 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. 2 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.

In these verses, Paul is calling for us to change, and change is not easy.

Change involves:

A cause – (Rom. 11) you are accepted by God according to His love and mercy.  His acceptance is not based on performance but on His grace.  You have been grafted in to Jesus Christ and to the family of God.  There is no better cause to change than to experience the love of someone who loves you enough to die for you.

A catalyst – total submission to Him as your greatest act of worship of Him.  When you stop being the center of your universe and begin to focus on your relationship with the Lord, you position yourself to experience true and lasting change.  Submission is the catalyst for change.

A course – transformation through the renewing of the mind.  Stop allowing yourself to be conformed to the pattern of the world.  Expose yourself to worship, teaching, preaching, and fellowship.  Alter your priorities so that your life reflects Him.  Transformation is the course of action that brings change.

A consequence – knowing God’s will for your life.  This goes beyond basic morality.  It means being empowered to move forward when the way is unclear.  It means being motivated to action when the outcome is uncertain.  The consequence of inner change and transformation is to understand what it means to have true peace: God’s peace.