Living Sacrifice: A Paradoxical Paradigm for Christian Living-Romans 12:1-2

The beloved Apostle Paul forbids us from being conformed to this world's system, but instead we're to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). So how do I renew my mind? Let's use a hilltop illustration. When the rain falls on a hill, the water drains off. How does it drain off? In rivulets. Initially, they are just small rivulets, but each time rain falls, the rivulets cut deeper and deeper. They can become deep chasms. Now let's compare these rivulets with thought patterns in our minds. The longer we think along any given line, the stronger that thought pattern becomes. Every time we react in a certain way, we reinforce that thought pattern. This is how habits are formed. If we want to get rid of rivulets on a hill, we could take a bulldozer and cover them up. We could also build a little dam where the little rivulet begins so that the next time it rains the rivulets will change course. While we can't cover up our thoughts with a mental bulldozer, we can build a dam in our minds when certain thoughts begin (worry, lust, anger...). We can refuse to think them. We can say, 'I will not allow myself to think that.' Then we can also redirect those thoughts, as we meditate on God's Word (like, say, Phil 4:8), we will think Christianly, biblically, and godly about the situations of life. Need help changing your thought patterns? We'd love for you to join us for our study of God's Word on "Living Sacrifice, a Paradoxical Paradigm for Christian Living", pt2 (Rom 12:1-2). We've already seen the significance of our self-identity in being living sacrifices, as the believer is united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Our bodies are living sacrifices. Now we'll see the connection of mind renewal to the glory of God!