“…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Yehovah, which is your reasonable service…be not conformed to this world: but…transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Yehovah.” Romans 12:1-2
In the chapters preceding Romans 12, the Apostle Paul explains that we were dead in trespasses and sin. He says the wages of sin is death, and that is what we would have earned and deserve if it were not for Yehovah’s mercy and grace. He explains that Yehovah redeemed us, made us righteous, justified and accepted us because of the death of His Son, Yeshua. In Romans 12, he declares that, in return for such sovereign mercy, it is both reasonable and a demonstration of appreciative devotion back to Yehovah that we present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice. In addition to that, he explains it is essential that we no longer conform to the mindset of the world, but to be transformed in our thinking, having our minds renewed and, using modern terminology, have a “factory reset” to the Maker’s original design and specification. He explains that, as we do this, we will experience the ‘good, acceptable and perfect’ will of Yehovah in and for our lives. Let us look more at those three words. Some people say they will do a “good day’s work for a good day’s pay.” By that they mean that the quality of work they will do will match the level of pay they receive. If they are, for example, a builder, doing a “good” job means it will be “good enough” to satisfy their own conscience, in line with how well they consider they are being paid. Then there are people who go that bit further; they will do a higher quality job, something more “acceptable” to the customer as being a really good quality job. But then there are those who, whatever they are paid, whatever anyone else thinks, strive for perfection. They do the best possible job, one they are pleased with and proud of, something that a Master Builder would consider unbeatable and perfect. What level you strive for, good, acceptable or perfect, is a decision only you can make, but it starts with presenting your body to Yehovah as a living sacrifice and renewing your mind daily.