RENEW YOUR MIND
Going Deep into Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
"Holy"
Definitions are in order again. Sometimes words can be used so flippantly that the true meaning and significance of the word gets lost.
Biblically, the word holy means to be set apart for God's sacred purpose.
As a living sacrifice, we lay aside our own will for our lives, but it is important that we do not fill our lives with things that might taint the gift of Christ that we are presenting.
Recall that as we present ourselves, we may be subject to inspection and scrutinization. Not scrutinized by God, but rather, scrutinized by those who are still lost in this world and in need of a Savior.
According to Google, when professionals are taught to detect counterfeit money, rather than focusing on the fakes and forgeries, they instead are trained to recognize the intricate details of genuine currency. This method of training provides a strong awareness of the currency's standard, making subtle flaws in counterfeit money stand out.
Considering this analogy, those in the world are very familiar with what the world looks like; familiar with what people disconnected from God look like, because they live this life every day.
On the other hand, we as Christ Carriers have been anointed and sealed by God, given the Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
If we are carrying The Creator of the universe in our hearts, shouldn't we look different than those of the world?
Those who are very familiar with what the world looks like, would they be able to spot something different about us? About how we carry ourselves in tough times? Noticing something different about how we respond when people mistreat us?
As children of God, there should be something that should set us apart; not based on anything that we do out of our own strength, but rather based on what is being done in through and around us, as we yield our lives to the Holy Spirit living through us!
By this, we are made holy; set apart for God's purpose.