https://odb.org/MY/2022/02/15/we-are-one
Romans 12:2 is a well known verse that encourages us to not to conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may be able to test and approve the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. It basically means we don’t follow the world, inter alia, in terms of our world view, our value systems, our beliefs, and motivations. We need to transform or change to be like Christ, and one of those changes is to be able to sacrifice our own needs or desires for the sake of others.
In today’s ODB example, the farmers all got together and colluded to allow the farmer who had lost his land due to financial difficulties (the bank foreclosed) to win it back at the auction when every single one of them refrained from bidding. Everyone of them farmers sacrificed the opportunity so that the farmer concerned was able to get back his land. This is definitely not the pattern of the world as the world usually looks to self interest first before that of others. In a queue for food relief, one fills one’s plate first without thinking of whether there are more needy folks behind us. What if the food finishes before the needy people get their turn? Will we think like that? Will we be as considerate as that? If not, isn’t it shameful if we as the redeemed of God behave exactly how others in the world would in self interest and self preservation? It may be natural and justifiable, but it is not necessarily the right way.
Thus, interestingly Romans 12:2 was preceded by Romans 12:1 which speaks of living a life that is a living sacrifice. I have always looked at “living sacrifice” as a concept of personal sacrifice to God, in terms of our own choices ceding to God’s choices for us. As Paul rightly puts it, due to God’s mercy that we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. More like to reciprocate God’s grace and kindness, and since He had redeemed us, we now belong to Him – thus our bodies are to be lived in sacrifice to Him, to serve Him, to do His work, in denial of our own desires and wants.
However, living sacrifice is also a concept of living a life of sacrifice as I found out today, of putting the interest of others first. Like sacrifice and going the extra mile are prerequisites to love, putting others first is also a prerequisite to a living sacrifice. Christian living is a challenge because it is always going against what’s regarded as normal, as natural or even justifiable by worldly standards. But ours is a life of living sacrifice – rightside up living. We put Christ first and as we put Christ first, we also put others first.
It goes against the grain and thus we need to transform our minds. But the end result is we will be able to test and approve the will of God, meaning to say, we will experience God in such a way that we will know that His will is good, pleasing and perfect. In the end, it will all make sense as God will work all things together for good to those who love Him and who are called in accordance with His purposes (Romans 8:28). Putting others first is not a “lose-win” situation but a “win-win”. In the long run, we will not lose out but will instead gain something deeper in God as we all in the faith know; the more we give, the more we will receive. That’s the magic of how the Kingdom of God works. Test it and you will approve of it!
Ronnie's Thoughts 