A Life Lived for God is Made Up of Days Lived for God.

Jun 1

This is one of my favorite quotes that my dad ever said. I have no idea where he got it from or if he made it up but I use it liberally… Because it is so true. It fuels the heart of ministry for me. It fuels the heart of discipleship. I want to live my days for God. I want to help others live their days for God.

A life lived for God is made up of days lived for God.

This is essentially what Paul is telling the church at Rome in Romans 12:1-2. Throughout the book of Romans he has made sure they had the gospel right. He made sure they took it in. And now he is helping them live it out.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. // Romans 12:1-2

Because of everything he has already said, he is appealing to them to live their lives for God. He says this… by God’s mercy - because God is merciful & you have received God’s mercy - live this way. Live your life for God:

Externally (v.1)

We should realize that how we live our lives is worship. Just as in the Old Testament they sacrificed animals. Our life that we live is now our sacrifice - not for forgiveness for our sins but for worship. God said this in Psalm 51 when he said:

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.'“ // Psalm 51:16-17

There is a new kind of sacrifice. The sacrifice of our surrendered lives. What is so cool about this to me is it elevates how we see worship. Worship is not just singing. Worship is a response to God for who He is. It is exemplified in how we live - in our holiness & obedience. What Paul is pushing against is the false idea that “I can live however I want”. That heart does not have a true understanding of God’s grace, mercy, & gospel.

Internally (v.2a)

We should live for God externally. But we should also live for God internally. In our heart. In our mind. Our heart is the throne room. Our mind is the control room. Paul commanded them, and us, to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. The internal affects the external. The external affects the internal.

I think we underestimate how important our minds really are. Max Lucado writes in Just like Jesus about how our minds are a greenhouse. We plant all sorts of things in our minds. And he begs us to ask the question - What are you planting? Because you can’t plant dandelion seeds and grow apples… no matter how hard you may try.

I could say so much about this. I could take us to 2 Corinthians 10:5 or Philippians 4 or a myriad of other places. But here is what Paul is saying. Don’t just follow God externally but internally. Not just with your front stage but with your backstage. Not just with what everyone sees but with what they don’t. Transform your mind and heart by walking with God daily in & through His Word.

Vertically (v.2b)

We should live for God externally. We should live for God internally. We should live for God vertically. Here is what I mean: God’s will & desire for our lives should be the most important thing to us.

We should want it. We should desire it. We should strive after it. Why? Because His will is good, acceptable, and perfect. This is because of who God is in His character. He is good. He is loving. He is sovereign. Which means He is completely trustworthy. Too often my will, my desires, or others will, others desires become most important to us. That should not be the case. God’s will & desire for our lives should be the most important thing to us. Is it to you?