Word for the day Christian Education Forum

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Christ Who Transforms Everything

Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-3 

Key Verse “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.” - Romans 12:1

DEVOTION

In Romans 12:1-3, Paul calls us to acknowledge the transformative nature of Christ in our lives. Christ asks us to offer ourselves before him even with our sinful nature. This is because we do not transform ourselves without surrendering to Christ first because it is he that can mold us for his purpose. our total surrender to Christ is noted in verse 1 as our “true and proper worship.” Worship, the act of giving our dues to Christ, is not dependent on how well we sing hymns nor is it confined to Sundays when we attend service. Rather, it is the active commitment of allowing Christ to use us everyday for his glory. 
Paul asks us in verse 2 to resist the temporary pleasure offered by the world and to instead seek eternal happiness in Christ. Though easier said than done, Paul reminds us that we cannot resist these temptations without changing our mindset to one that is Christ-like. It is one that sees that life is a way to serve God’s purpose, not your own will. It is one that bears the fruits of the Spirit and trusts in the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than earthly passion. The spiritual gifts God has blessed us with should be practiced with humility as observed in verse 3. Our salvation in Christ is a gift, not something that should make us feel more superior to others. 
As Lent approaches, let us humble ourselves so that we may be renewed in a way that Christ transformed Paul to serve the Gentiles or changed Zacchaeus so that can give back to his community. Let our bodies be vessels of Christ’s love that can share Christ to not only those within our own communities but also to people completely different from ourselves. 

   PRAYER

 Dear Lord, give us the discernment to actively choose you and to lead a life that is holy and pleasing to you. May we find comfort in knowing that you accept us with our flaws and that it is only you that can transform us. Amen. 

Thought for the day

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Julia Jinu, Epiphany MTC, NY

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