What does it really mean to live as a living sacrifice? In this episode, we explore Romans chapter 12 and discover that God desires every part of our lives, not just our time at church or our spiritual routines. He invites us to surrender our thoughts, our attitudes, our relationships, and our everyday decisions to Him.

We'll talk about how lasting transformation begins with the renewing of our minds, allowing us to recognize God's will and walk it out each day. We'll also explore what it means to use the gifts God has given us to serve others with humility, sincerity, and genuine love.

As we respond to God's incredible mercy, we'll see that a life transformed by Christ is reflected in the way we love, serve, forgive, and even treat those who are difficult to love.

The content shared on Living the Selah Life is for spiritual encouragement, personal reflection, and informational purposes only.

It is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace medical, psychological or professional advice of any kind.

Please consult a licensed healthcare provider or qualified professional for any physical, mental or emotional health concerns.

The views expressed are those of the host, Kimberly Lockanore, and are based on personal experience and Biblical insight, not clinical or professional training.

Welcome back to Living the Selah Life, a podcast that invites you to slow down, to breathe and to reconnect with the presence of God.

I'm your host, Kim, and this space is for anyone longing to become more familiar with his presence.

Each episode is an intentional pause, a moment to reflect, realign and remember that God meets us when we create space for Him.

So take a breath.

You are right on time.

Let's live the Selah life together.

In our last episode, we saw God's faithfulness to Israel and His sovereign purposes that include both Jews and Gentiles.

We worship the depth of God's wisdom and the certainty of his promises.

Today we're moving into Romans chapter 12, where Paul shifts from theology to practice from what God has done to how we respond after 11 chapters of gospel truth, Paul says, therefore, because of God's mercy, here's how you live.

And this chapter is very practical.

It's about presenting your body to God, renewing your mind, using your gifts, loving, genuinely, serving, joyfully, living at peace and overcoming evil with good.

All the things.

This is the gospel lived out in everyday life.

Get ready to see what transformation looks like when you are a living sacrifice.

We recall this week's main teaching, Living sacrifices transform lives.

Romans chapter 12, verses 1 Present your bodies.

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies.

A living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, therefore connects everything Paul is about to say with everything he just taught.

Because God justified you, reconciled you, freed you from sin, gave you the Spirit, secured you in his love, and demonstrated his faithfulness.

Therefore, here's your response by the mercies of God.

Not by the threats of fear, but by the mercies of God.

Everything Paul taught in chapter one through 11 is mercy.

Your response flows from gratitude for mercy received.

Present your bodies.

Offer yourself completely to God.

Not just your spiritual life or your church activities or the religious moments, your whole being, everything that you are and everything that you do.

A living sacrifice.

Unlike Old Testament sacrifices that were killed, you are a living sacrifice.

You don't die physically, you die to self and you live For God, holy and acceptable to God.

When you present yourself to God, you become holy, set apart and acceptable, pleasing to Him.

And hear me when I say this, there will be a whole different podcast on holiness, because the church has deduced holiness down to simply living right.

And that is not what holiness is.

To be holy is to be set apart and only God can make you holy, which is your reasonable service.

Some translations say spiritual worship.

This is a rational response to God's mercy.

It's fitting, it's proper.

After everything God has done for us, presenting ourselves to him is the only reasonable response.

And when we struggle with that, we just ask him, ask him to help us.

Romans chapter 12, verses 2.

Don't be conformed 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.

Do not be conformed to this world.

Like don't let the world squeeze you into its mode.

Don't adopt its values, its priorities, its way of thinking.

And don't pattern our lives behind the world system, even though most of us are already had prior to knowing God.

He will help us separate from those patterns.

In fact, it takes him to separate from those patterns, to even realize that the patterns exist.

But good thing he's merciful.

The world patterns are like self focused, materialism, pride, pleasure seeking, status chasing.

Don't be conformed to this, but be transformed.

You cooperate, but he's the one changing by the renewing of your mind.

Any change that takes place first takes place on the inside.

Transformation happens through mind renewal.

How you think determines how you live.

Change your thinking and you change your life that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

As your mind is renewed, you discern God's will.

You prove it, you experience it, you test it, you demonstrate it.

God's will is good, beneficial, acceptable, pleasing and perfect.

Complete, lacking nothing.

Transformed lives are able to demonstrate God's will.

Romans chapter 12.

3.

Think soberly.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Don't think too highly of yourself.

Pride is the natural human tendency, overestimating your importance or your abilities or your righteousness.

Paul says to think soberly, to think accurately, realistically, with sound judgment.

See yourself as you truly are, someone that was saved by grace, gifted by God for his purposes, valuable indeed but not superior.

God has dealt each person a measure of faith.

We didn't generate faith on our own.

God gave it to us.

So we have absolutely nothing to boast about.

Romans, chapter 12, verses 4 through 5.

One body, many members.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

The church is like one body, like a body, many members with different functions.

The eyeballs that see, ears that hear, hands that grasp, feet that walk.

Every part has a role.

And where we sometimes get it so confused now is everyone wants to be like everyone else and manifest what everyone else is manifesting and wonder what, why it's not working.

Or even worse, see something that someone else is manifesting and you can't.

And you call them fake or you call them false.

And that's not the case.

It's just, you may be a hand, he may be a foot, you may be a thigh, they may be the mouth.

It all depends on who God created you to be.

But when we're operating as a unit, like a church that utilizes all of its members and all of its gifts, you will notice those churches thrive.

They thrive because it is being used the way that God designed everyone, bringing what he gave them together to benefit the common good.

Because we're all one body in Christ.

Individually, we're members of one another, interconnected, interdependent, necessary to each other.

And this reality kills pride altogether.

We need each other.

You're one body in Christ.

Individually, you're members of one another, interconnected, interdependent, necessary to each other.

That's God's design.

Use your gifts.

Romans, chapter 12, verses 6 through 8.

Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

If prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith, our ministry, let us use it in our ministering.

He who teaches, in teaching.

He who exhorts in exhortation, he who gives with liberality.

He, he who leads with diligence.

He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

God has given you gifts, abilities empowered by grace for serving the body.

Different people have different gifts.

All gifts come from grace, though the command is simple.

Use them.

Don't bury your gifts and don't envy other people's gifts.

Use what God gave you for the body's benefit.

Notice the manner, because it matters.

Give liberally, not grudgingly.

Lead diligently.

He didn't say carelessly.

Show mercy cheerfully, not reluctantly.

How you use your Gift is as important as using it.

Romans chapter 12, verses 9 through 10 Genuine love let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another.

Let love be without hypocrisy.

Love genuinely and not just for show.

Be sincere.

And I know that can sometimes be a struggle.

But I've learned that I am very honest with the Lord when it comes to things like this, and I let him know how I feel, but he also knows my heart of how I want to feel and he helps me get there every single time.

So you will not always feel it.

Love is not a feeling.

I'm sure with the things that we do, God doesn't always feel like loving us, but because he decided to do it in advance, he does, regardless of feeling.

And he can make us that way as well.

He can make you that way.

Abhor what is evil.

Hate evil with intensity.

Do not tolerate it, don't excuse it.

Hate what God hates and cling to what is good.

Hold tightly, just as tightly to what's good and don't compromise.

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love.

Show warm family like affection to other believers and people in general.

Your brothers and sisters are not strangers.

Consider others more important than yourself and put their interests ahead of yours.

Honor them above yourself.

And this in our culture would be considered very radical.

Jesus says, prefer others serve with joy.

Romans chapter 12, verses 11 to 13 not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints.

Given to hospitality.

Don't be lazy in your service.

Be fervent in spirit, passionate, enthusiastic.

I don't like to say on fire.

I say God creates us people of fire.

You're serving the Lord, not just doing religious activities.

Rejoice in hope, maintain joy because of what's coming and we can Be patient in tribulation.

Endure hardship with steadfastness and continue in prayer.

Keep praying, y'.

All.

Don't give up and share with believers in need.

Practice hospitality.

Welcome people into your life and welcome to your table.

This is Spirit Empowered Christian living.

Notice I said spirit empowered.

Because aside from the Holy Spirit empowering you to do it, it's going to be a hard no.

Romans, chapter 12, 14, 16 Bless those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and Weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind toward one another.

Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.

Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Bless those who persecute you.

When someone mistreats you, pray for their good.

Don't curse me off.

This is Jesus's teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.

Applied love your enemies.

Pray for those who persecute you.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Enter into others, experience.

Celebrate their joys and share their sorrows.

This is empathy in action.

Be of the same mind toward one another.

Pursue unity.

Think in harmony.

Don't be divided by pride or selfishness.

Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.

Don't seek the impressive or the elite.

Spend time with humble people.

Serve those who society often overlooks.

And don't be wise in your own opinion.

Don't be conceited.

Don't think you have all the answers.

Always remain teachable.

Romans chapter 12, verses 17 through 21.

Overcome evil with good.

Repay no one for evil.

When wronged, don't retaliate.

Don't return evil for evil.

Bring.

Break the cycle of revenge.

He said, to have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Be known for doing good.

Live honorably before everyone, not just believers.

If it is possible, as much as depend on you.

Live peaceably with all men.

Pursue peace.

Do your part, because all you can do is your part.

You can't control others, but you can control your part.

And don't avenge yourselves.

That's God's job.

He says, vengeance is mine.

I will repay.

Trust God to handle justice.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink.

Meet your enemy's needs.

Show practical love and even to those who hate you.

For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.

Paul said, and this likely means your kindness will produce shame.

That prod your good to their evil may be the very thing that transforms them.

And don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Evil is aggressive.

It tries to overcome you, but don't let it.

Instead, overcome it with good.

Good is more powerful than evil.

Love defeats hate and kindness conquers cruelty.

The weapons of our warfare are different than the weapons of the world's warfare.

Remember that the key to this chapter is verse 2.

Transformation by mind renewal.

Everything Paul commands flows from renewed thinking.

Renewed minds produce transformed lives.

You can't live Romans chapter 12 with a worldly mind.

And how does Mind renewing happen through God's word, through the Spirit's work, through choosing to think God's thoughts after him, through replacing lies with truth.

It takes all of these things to renew your mind.

Romans chapter 12 shows that theology always leads to practice.

What you believe about God determines how you live before people.

Because God shows you mercy, you present yourself to Him.

He transformed you so you don't need to conform to the world.

Because God gifted you by grace, you used gifts humbly.

And because God loved you, you love others genuinely.

Because God blessed you when you were his enemy, you bless your enemies.

Because God overcame evil with good, you overcome others evil with good.

And the Holy Spirit empowers us to do it all.

This is Gospel response Live from what God has done.

We will move on to this week's Pause prompts.

And remember Paul's prompts are just a chance to take inventory of where we are so that we can know where we need to be and where we're going.

Pause prompt number one.

Have you presented your body as a living sacrifice to God?

Not just your church life, but your whole life?

Where, if anywhere, are you being conformed to the world's pattern?

What do you think determines how you live?

Are you filling your mind with God's truth?

Are you using your gifts to serve the body?

How do you respond when wronged?

Let's move on to this week's Selah moment and prayer.

My favorite.

This is our opportunity to present ourselves to God.

Sit comfortably and take several slow, deep breaths.

Or if you prefer, you can stand, position yourself physically to present yourself to God.

Whatever that looks like for you.

See yourself laying your whole life on God's altar.

Your body, your time, your gifts, your relationship, your resources, everything.

You are the living sacrifice.

Your mind is being renewed.

Worldly thinking is being replaced with God's truth.

You're being transformed from the inside out.

Picture yourself living today as a transformed person, loving genuinely, serving joyfully, blessing enemies and overcoming evil with good.

This is who you are in Christ.

Let us pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus.

By your mercies, by everything you've done for us in Christ, we present our bodies to you as living sacrifices.

We're yours.

Use us.

We offer you our eyes to see what you want us to see, our ears to hear what you want us to hear.

Our mouth to speak your words, our hands to do your work, our feet to go where you send us, our minds to thank your thoughts.

We are living sacrifices, dying to ourselves, living for you.

Keep us from being conformed to this world.

The world wants to squeeze us into a mold of self, focus, pride, pleasure seeking.

Don't let us adopt the world's pattern.

Transform us by renewing our minds, Lord, change how we think.

Replace our way of thinking with your truth.

As our minds are renewed, our lives are transformed.

Thank you that we're one body with many members.

Help us see ourselves as part of a body needing others, needed by others, interconnected and interdependent.

Thank you for the gifts you've given us by grace.

Help us use them not for applause, not for the body's benefit.

With the manner that honors you generously, diligently and cheerfully.

Help our love be genuine, Lord.

Keep us from hypocrisy, help us care sincerely, serve from the heart and love without pretense.

Make us people who prefer others in honor.

Help us consider others more important than ourselves.

Keep us fervent in spirit.

God, help us rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and continue in prayer.

Make us generous and hospitable.

Lord, help us to pursue peace as much as it depends on us.

Keep us from taking revenge because we know that vengeance is is yours.

When our enemies have needs, help us meet them.

Help us feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and show kindness to those who hate us.

Make us living sacrifices with transformed minds demonstrating your good and perfect will.

It is in the name of Jesus who presented Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for us and it is so.

Let's lean into our Selah moment.

Sa.

Sam.

Well my friends, that is it.

Thank you for listening to Living the Selah life.

If this moment stirred something in your spirit, share it with someone who needs to be reminded to pause and to listen.

You can connect with me on Instagram, a Facebook group, not a Facebook page or YouTube at Living the Selah Life or email me at livingtheselahliferoton me until next time.

Remember that God is speaking.

He wants to guide you and direct you and give you his wisdom for your life.

Create space to listen.

Present yourselves as a living sacrifice.

This is your reasonable response to God's mercies.

May you go from this place resting, carrying the awareness that his presence is always near.

May you be rooted in the unshakable word of God, the Logos that ground you and the rhema that guides you.

Men shall not live off of bread of loan, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

And may you give keep rising into the life he designed for you, into purpose, into peace, into the fullness of his calling.

May your life become a living Selah an intentional pause that reveals his presence in Jesus name.

And it is so Selah.