PRIME LIFE MINISTRIES: How To Live Your Faith Each Day (Part 1)

The following are guidelines for living as redeemed people in a fallen world. We are to:

Give Ourselves To God As Living Sacrifices (Part 1);

Obey The Government (Part 2);

Love Our Neighbors (Part 3); And

Take Special Care Of Those Who Are Weak In The Faith (Part 4).

LIVING SACRIFICES

Romans 12:1-2 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

In the above scripture verses, we are told that God wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices – daily laying aside our own desires to follow Him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us. We should do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.

God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey Him. Because He wants only what is best for us, and because He gave His Son to make our new lives possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for His service.

As Christians, we are called not to conform any longer to the patterns of this world, with its behaviors and customs that are usually selfish and often corrupt. We should wisely decide that much worldly behavior is off limits for us.

But, our refusal to conform to this world's values must go even deeper than the level of behavior and customs – it must be firmly planted in our minds - “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

However, remember this. It is possible to avoid most worldly behavior and customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant.

It is only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our minds that are we truly transformed.

Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

According to this scripture verse, your thoughts have a lot to do with your perspective and attitudes and you become what you think.

ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS