“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. 2 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.” Romans 12:1-2 (NKJ)
“Paul is speaking to believers as in a summons to court, to fulfill an obligation to make our bodies available to God. This is rational worship. It is truly the only really rational thing to do. As has happened many times in the past, I received a summons to jury duty. The emphasis is on duty. This was not a choice. I could not say, “Later, man.”
“Worship is not singing songs, crying or using spiritual gifts. These things are an accompaniment to real worship which takes place when we truly put our bodies at His disposal. When we respond to the summons, when we obey God to live out His objectives using our hands, legs and mouth, we are worshipping Him. For this is what God’s will is; this is what is truly good, acceptable, and complete.
“How do we respond to the summons? By changing our minds. Colossians 3:2-3 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” The only rational thing to do is to make our life style agree with our position with Christ made possible when Christ died on the cross. When we believed, we identified with Him in his death and burial, and then continue that identification in his resurrection (Romans 6:4). We will be with him in glory. This is something to celebrate. It would be irrational not to celebrate.
“Pray: Dear God, help me to understand the implications of what Paul tells us in Romans 12! Help me to obey and truly worship.