Be a Living and Holy Sacrifice

2024 focal passage

“See then that you WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ….” – Ephesians 5:15-21 NKJV

Digging into first reference passage:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” – Romans 12:1-3

Study: looking at the mercies of God. What can be gleaned about “the mercies of God”?

1 – God’s mercy brings restoration: Ezekiel 39:25

2 – God’s mercy saves: Hosea 14:3

3 – God’s mercy reveals Jesus in order to guide our feet into the way of peace: Luke 1:76-79

4 – God’s providential purpose for allowing sin is so we may know Love’s mercy: Romans 11:30-36

5 – God’s mercy allows us to experience Him in ways that equip us to be His ministers: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

6 – God’s mercy and peace come upon those who remember their boast is in Christ alone, and not in their fleshly endeavors: Galatians 6:11-16

7 – God’s mercy is realized through saving grace that comes to us through our faith to believe and trust His faithfulness: Ephesians 2:4-7

8 – God’s mercy brings physical healing: Philippians 2:25-27

9 – Because of God’s mercy, we who are saved by grace through faith are born again into a living hope that obtains an eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus – we are heirs with Christ: 1 Peter 1:3-5

10 – Because of God’s mercy, we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10

“Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” – 2 John 3

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” – Jude 20-21

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:21-25 NKJV