Sometimes, someone will offer you something which you will decline. A snack? A trip? Who knows? Something they wanted you to have, but you politely said “no, thank you”. Sometimes they will follow up with “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”, to which I would sometimes, jokingly, reply “What’s wrong with the one I have?”.

The Apostle Paul asks us the question: “Won’t you change your mind?” in Romans chapter 12, but he doesn’t ask politely. Paul begs us.

What is so important that Paul is begging?

(1) 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.
(2) 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.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Paul is urging us to do something, for a good reason and to an important end.

Let’s break this down:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters”.

Why the “therefore”? In the previous chapter, Paul is talking to believers in Rome, “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people” (Romans 1:7), about the reconciliation of the Jews. He talks about their (the believers) inclusion in the kingdom of God and the intention for all Israel to eventually join that kingdom as a result of God’s mercy to them (the believers). With this in mind, Paul now wants to instruct these believers how to worship God properly.

“in view of God’s mercy”

Here’s the reason why, the motivation. Because of the infinite mercy that God has shown them in saving them, through His Son, from the depths of their sin they now should worship God by following Paul’s urged instruction. This requires recognizing the depths of God’s love in showering them with mercy, it involves recognizing the filthy, deep pit that He has pulled them out of (Psalms 40:2). This depth of understanding enables the ability to love deeply (Luke 7:44-47) and to follow Paul’s instruction found in these verses.

“to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”

When you sacrifice something you give it all and you give the best you have (Exodus 23:19, Malachi 1:8). We are to sacrifice ourselves to God in the same way, give Him all of us, the best of us. Our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are here to do His will, above all else.

“holy and pleasing to God”

Holy means “set apart”, it means “completely different”. God will work this in us via His Holy Spirit through the process of sanctification. We will be changed, conformed to the image of His Son, this process will be complete when we get to heaven. Be warned though, you can fight this process, you can slow it down and drag it out. How? By being disobedient, by ignoring the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

“this is your true and proper worship”

This is how we are to worship God, this is “true” and “proper” worship. This is what is EXPECTED of us! We don’t deserve a pat on the back if we obey Paul here, this is what we should all be doing.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world”

Don’t be like the world, don’t act how the world acts, don’t chase after the things the world chases after, don’t fall into the thought patterns that the world follows.

“but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”

God’s sanctification will reprogram your mind, you will learn to think differently, think Godly, think in line with scripture and live spiritually. Again, don’t fight this sanctification, let it happen despite how uncomfortable or frightening it might be.

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”

The end result of this kind of obedience: being able to determine God’s will. When you are properly surrendered and thinking properly you will then have the tools needed to analyze, test and discern thoughts, circumstances and people. You will be able to spot and separate the Godly from the demonic.

Please don’t say a polite “no, thank you” to Paul’s urge here. There is something wrong with the mind you were born with, but an upgrade is available.