Preschool
And who then is willing to consecrate his service? 1 Chronicles 29:5
Transformed by Mercy
Memory Verses
Primary
And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? 1 Chronicles 29:5
Junior
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? 1 Chronicles 29:5
Background Scripture: Romans 12
Lesson Scripture: Romans 12:1–16
Introduction
Our loving Father redeems all those who come to Him and transforms them into His children. There is no comparable achievement in our earth life and no higher honor to seek than to become more and more like our heavenly Father. Romans 12 gives instructions on living the transformed life. May it fill us with the desire to be made into the likeness of the One who redeemed us and give us power to bring glory to His name.
Key Verse
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Cor. 15:10).
Lesson Scripture
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Studying the Lesson
In our lesson scripture Paul spells out the fruit of a transformed, Spirit-filled life. In the first three verses, he lays the foundation for this transformation. To the Christian who has repented and experienced the wonders of the new birth, the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit enables him in this new walk of life. We have become a living sacrifice, yielding our bodies to God’s service. When we are simply an instrument for Him to use, He is pleased, and His name is glorified. For the Holy Spirit to effectively control our hearts, we will have to crucify our own selfish desires. The success of our spiritual life depends on this humble and self-forgetting response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Obedience brings spiritual understanding; discerning the will of God comes by obedience to God’s Spirit. Conversely, following the world brings us confusion, and, consequently, we fail to properly discern the will of God.
Balanced thinking is one mark of the child of God, even as Paul instructs us to think about ourselves properly. Judging by the world around us and considering the inclination of our natural man, this may be difficult to do. Retaining a clear vision of our native iniquity helps us keep a balanced estimation of ourselves. We are capable of the worst sins known to man, but by God’s grace and mercy we have been forgiven and are His children. When we see this clearly, we can think soberly. We are then deeply grateful for the mercy the Father bestows upon us.
The groundwork for balanced thinking of oneself is laid in the home. Christian parents who love their children compliment them when they are obedient, discipline them when they are disobedient, and often assure them that they have a place in the family. When God calls them to be His child, a settled conviction comes to their hearts with a vision of their depravity and the sin that separates them from a Holy God. Some people have despaired of life during those dark hours or days when they were under conviction and begging for the Lord’s mercy. However, God always answers in mercy the sincere cry of the penitent one.
Practical Truths for Today
To do things of eternal value, we must have a personal relationship with the heavenly Father. This relationship begins with that which is referred to in Revelation 2:5: “repent, and do the first works.” We must repent and be born of the Spirit of God, acknowledging Jesus the Lord of our life and worshipping him with an undivided heart. “But we all, with open face beholding . . . the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). As we behold Him, we are motivated by a holy desire in our hearts to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. From that obedience come the works of beauty and eternal value. No other motivation can produce works of lasting importance. Effort motivated by human ambition cannot be used for God’s eternal purposes. God will not compromise with the pride and corruption of man’s unregenerate heart or his desire for glory and recognition. Anything done for our own glory and to promote self is like the wood, hay, and stubble referred to in 1 Corinthians 3:12.
God has provided the church as a delightful place for Christians to work and bear the fruit of His Spirit in unity with others. Our lesson scripture gives an attractive picture of the activity of the body with the Head in control of the members. The blending of our hearts in worship and devotion to God is a work of grace. May we be willing in these troubled times to let God sanctify us so we can see this more clearly. If we are unwilling, how many people around us are affected? If I have a critical spirit, I hinder the Lord’s work in the body as well as the personal work of transforming me into a joyful, thankful person. Humbly seeking to maintain an accommodating mind toward each other in the church is a blessing both for us and them.
When we experience the freedom God gives us through His mercy, there is fertile ground in our hearts for a deep appreciation of our brethren. We see how each member of the body has been given different gifts and how each one has a place to fill in our congregation. Each one is needed to make the body function, and competition and personal ambition have no place. The Spirit-filled Christian is not trying to “be someone” or “get somewhere”; his goal is to be like Jesus.
When we are filled with gratitude for what we have been delivered from, we see our responsibility, together with our accountability to our brethren, and we are willing to share with them in whatever way we can. We are willing to get involved, to get off the sidelines and out in the middle of the “game.” To serve the Lord, we will need to serve others. Jesus said, “As ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40).
May we not be lifted in pride when our service is appreciated; gifts are given to us by God for His glory in the church and to serve our fellow men. The most talented and useful person is only what the grace of God has made him or her. As they have allowed that grace to give them power and inspiration, we are all benefitted. Jesus, who had the Holy Spirit without measure and spiritual gifts without number, is our perfect example in service in that He was always meek and lowly.
The Holy Spirit is modest by nature and does not draw attention to Himself. He always speaks the truth, and if we follow Him, we will live a life like the Scripture in our lesson portrays. We will bear His fruit in our lives. In these last days, He gives us a sense of urgency that we “must be about [our] Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).
Questions
- If we have a negative opinion of ourselves, are we thinking soberly?
- Do we know what our own gifts or talents are?
- Unsubscribe
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).