for us, it is not unreasonable to hear Paul plead, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reason able service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1, 2). The moti vation here is love expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament animals were offered as sacrifices. God says He wants your life on the altar. This is your spir itual act of worship. If Christ is where He belongs, our life must be given as a gift to Him. Think of those who have given themselves to different purposes. The builder of the San Francisco Bay Bridge overcame all kinds of obstacles because he had one goal in mind. He believed the job could be completed. The same is true of the one who designed the Mt. Rushmore monuments. Nothing stopped him. Now, the Lord asks us to set an even higher goal. We are to put Christ supreme in our lives. Can you say, "There is noth ing more important in all the world than that I accomplish this for the glory of the Saviour"? What is the will of God as to this transformation and renewing of your minds? We are not to con form to this age, which has alto gether different goals. In the secu lar world people have their minds set on everything else but putting Christ first. We are to be new crea tures, conformed to the image of God's Son (Philippians 2:5-11). What was the image of His Son? We are exhorted "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). As we look at the basis of this appeal, placing the right attitude toward God, we must also have a right attitude to ward people. You cannot dedicate your life to God without dedicating yourself to one another. Every man stands at the same level before the cross. No one is better than any one else. Every time we bear tes timony to Jesus Christ we are say ing, "I am a sinner saved by grace. Without Him I would be nothing." This is the basis of fellowship with in the body of believers. The ac knowledgement of this truth con stantly is the basis of our com munion. We must accept the fact that each of us has a peculiar gift that we must use for the body's edifi cation and glorification. We are members one of another. "God hath dealt to every man the meas ure of faith." Someone said he felt he had the gift of preaching. The only trouble was that there was a difficulty in finding those who had the gift of listening! We need to ask the Lord to reveal His will for our lives. Operate by faith, and ask Him to direct you in the task He would have you do. There is some thing for everyone. Do not under emphasize your specific gift, nor overemphasize it either. I am re sponsible for you; you are respon sible for me (12:5). During the earthquake there was a picture in the paper of a house which had been knocked off its foundation. It was in terrible shape. It had to be torn down. Someone put a sign on the broken structure, "Handiman Wanted." What good would that have been? Our lives need to be transformed, complete ly renovated, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do not be satisfied Page 35
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