Romans 12:1-8: a reflection

1Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 4For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, 6having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Paul, having set out the mercies of God, calls for our response: I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. And he adds: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The response to God's mercies is to offer ourselves wholly to him, as a living sacrifice, and to be transformed inwardly, our minds renewed, rather than shaped by the world around us.

Notice the two things Paul urges: to present ourselves wholly to God, and to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. First, in response to God's mercies, we are to offer ourselves, our whole selves, as a living sacrifice to God, held nothing back, given wholly to him. And second, we are not to be conformed to the world, shaped by its patterns, but transformed inwardly, our minds renewed, so that we can discern and do God's will. Whole self-offering, and inward transformation: this is the response to God's mercies.

Both are worth taking to heart. First, the offering of ourselves: in response to all God's mercy, we are to give ourselves wholly to him, as a living sacrifice, holding nothing back. Not merely a portion of ourselves, but our whole selves, are to be offered to God. And second, the transformation: we are not to be conformed to the world, letting its patterns shape us, but transformed inwardly, our minds renewed, so that we think and live differently. In response to God's mercies, offer yourself wholly to him, as a living sacrifice, holding nothing back; and do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let God's mercy move you to give him your whole self, and to be inwardly transformed rather than shaped by the world around you, that you may prove and do his good and perfect will. Offer yourself wholly to God, and be transformed inwardly, as the fitting response to all his mercy toward you.

Lord, Paul, having set out your mercies, calls for my response: to present my body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you, which is my spiritual worship; and not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind. The response to your mercies is to offer myself wholly to you, and to be transformed inwardly, rather than shaped by the world around me. Show me the two things Paul urges: to present myself wholly to you, and to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. First, in response to your mercies, I am to offer myself, my whole self, as a living sacrifice, holding nothing back, given wholly to you. And second, I am not to be conformed to the world, shaped by its patterns, but transformed inwardly, my mind renewed, so that I can discern and do your will. Help me take both to heart. In response to all your mercy, help me give myself wholly to you, as a living sacrifice, holding nothing back, not merely a portion but my whole self. And help me not be conformed to the world, letting its patterns shape me, but be transformed inwardly, my mind renewed, so that I think and live differently. Let your mercy move me to give you my whole self, Lord, and to be inwardly transformed rather than shaped by the world, that I may prove and do your good and perfect will. Help me offer myself wholly to you, and be transformed by the renewing of my mind.