What would a life wholly dedicated to God look like? Were you to lay aside everything else-every desire, every selfish wish to just follow Him, what would your life be? Paul begins chapter 12 of Romans with just that idea. After painstakingly outlining the truth of humanity’s sin, he presented the truth of justification by faith in Jesus Christ. He detailed the workings of the Holy Spirit within each believer providing the power to victoriously live this Christian life. Therein he described in chapter 8 of Romans, the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification beyond that of sealing us eternally as adopted children of God by faith. From no condemnation before a perfect, holy righteous God to no separation ever from Him for all who know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Paul has presented the theological background needed to live the Christian life.
Furthermore, he presented the mystery of the gospel message, having always been intended for both Jew and Gentile. God’s majestic and magnificent plan of salvation to a world so undeserving of His Grace and Mercy. A mystery beyond our greatest hope or imagination.
God’s Wondrous Master Plan
Then Paul reminds us that God’s master plan does not desert the Jewish nation. After reminding us that God is not done in fulfilling the Jewish covenant, he ended chapter 11 of Romans with a wonderous shout of joy and praise to God.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36).
Then, in Chapter 12 Paul begins to describe the characteristics of the Christian life. That is for the life wholly dedicated to God because of all this magnificent and wondrous truth.
A Life Wholly Dedicated to God
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 reasonable 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).
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, dying each day to the fleshly desires and pride that you might live a life wholly dedicated to God. To live a life holy and acceptable to God. Is not that reasonable service for all that He has given us freely by grace? Would it not be foolish to give Him any less than our all? We must not be conformed to this world. Instead we must be transformed day by day through the renewing of our minds. How do we renew our minds? By continuously turning to see Him. Study His word. Take time for prayer and communion alone with Him. And, surrender our minds, heart, and soul to the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. It is by saying yes to Him and no to ourselves. Furthermore, it is presenting our bodies as a “living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God.”
If we do this, if we live a life wholly dedicated to God what would our life look like? Paul gives us in chapter 12 nine characteristics of the life wholly dedicated to God, so let us look at those characteristics and see if we have any of these traits exemplified. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” 2 Corinthians 13:5.
15 Characteristics of A Life Wholly Dedicated to God
- Holy and Acceptable to God-
- Humble
- Generous with Our Gifts
- Love without Hypocrisy
- Kind
- Disciplined
- Diligent
- Focused
- Joyous
- Patient
- Prayerful
- Generous
- Forgiving
- Empathetic
- Good
IMPOSSIBLE?
Yes, pretty much; except with the Holy Spirit in us and with our abiding in Christ, we can look more like Him. These characteristics could never be possible without Romans 1-11. Our human hearts are always too concerned with our own selfish pleasures and desires to ever truly love others or God with a purity of love placing their eternity above our own momentary pleasure. That is unless, God steps in to transform our hearts and minds.
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 reasonable 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).
Concluding Thoughts
John Wesley once said, “Give me 100 men who love only God with all their heart and hate sin with all their heart and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation. ”
Let me be one of those who loves God with all my heart and hate sin with all my being. Let me fear only sin and nothing else, that I might stand firmly on faith—always seeking to do the right thing before God. Regardless of the cost, let me be a living sacrifice to God. One life wholly Dedicated to God. That is my reasonable service.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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