A Different Lifestyle
ICS Daily Devotions
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) 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.
If we are honest, how many of us would like to please our bosses more than God? We often feel pressured at work to seek promotions or postings by trying to please our bosses. As Christians, shouldn’t we aim to live a life that pleases only God—not because we have to, but because we genuinely want to? We choose this lifestyle out of a heart of gratitude and worship, because we know that it is out of His abundant grace that He has chosen to love us by redeeming us from our sins through the blood of Jesus. Jesus paid the price with His blood to grant us the righteous position before God, which could never be achieved through our strength, merits, and efforts.
Matthew 22:37 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
We must decide and purpose in our heart that we will love God with all our heart, soul, and mind when we work in the world, because there will be many occasions when we are pressured to yield and conform to the world.
The two opening verses advocate that we consecrate our lives and set ourselves apart from the world. This means we do not embrace everything the world practises, especially when it contradicts our Christian values and principles. We are a living sacrifice, which means we must willingly set ourselves apart by making the same choice as Daniel did—to refuse to compromise with the local culture and values as an expression of worship and love for God.
If we are convinced that God has a good and perfect will for our lives, we will not compromise. We are confident that He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will willingly give us all things. However, we must accept that His plan and will for our lives may differ from our plan, and it will also differ significantly from how the world measures success and significance. Our identity is not based on our merits, social standing, or the company we work for. All these will change like shifting sands and fail to help us withstand the challenges that life will throw at us.
Instead, our identity is in Christ. We are children of God who are greatly loved by Him because we are hidden in Christ and blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. It is a firm foundation for us, enabling us to be highly secure emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. It will also help us to face all kinds of challenges in life, including persecution, tribulation, and adversity.
Sermon Series: Vessel for His Glory
