Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."
Sacrifice. To many, that's a big word. To some, it's laying your life into God's hands. Jesus called us to be living sacrifices–to live a pure and holy life for Him. In order to live a life pleasing to God, we must let Him take control. Who knows better than us? God. He knows more about each and every one of us more than we know ourselves. He knows what's best for us.
Sometimes, I think we think we know it all. I find this rather funny because I've been there too. The great kicker is that we are the creation, but God is the Creator. Every invention has an inventor. Before the light bulb was created, there was Thomas Edison. Before the airplane, there was Orville and Wilbur Wright (also known as the Wright Brothers). All the men and women who were considered great inventors in their time, created their inventions to serve a need. Their creations served a purpose.
Before all of creation, there was God. God created man. Mankind was created for a special purpose– a special need...
Colossians 1:16 "For all things in Heaven and on earth were created by Him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through Him and for Him."
We were created to live for Him. To worship Him. To give of our lives fully for Him. Sacrifice. One of the definitions for the word sacrifice is "the thing so surrendered or devoted." We need to totally surrender to God–to give up our wills and let His be done.
The second verse in Romans 12 says to be transformed. Have you ever watched the stages that a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly? It's amazing, really. The caterpillar hatches from it's egg six days after it's laid. It then feeds on the plant that it has been laid on (as an egg). This is very much the same thing God does for us. He plants us where He wants us. He knows our needs before we're born. The caterpillar then begins to feed on every leaf in it's sight to prepare for the next stage– just as we as Christians should strive to live a better and more nutritious life for Him; feeding on His word.
The next stage in the life of a caterpillar is the most mesmerizing part of the cycle. Metamorphosis–a complete change of form, structure, or substance. Before the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it forms a chrysalis by spinning silk. While in this protective casing, the caterpillar undergoes amazing changes through the course of twelve days. It's body structure changes. It forms two wings and a long tongue. Finally, it breaks free of this hard shell. This creature is no longer a little weak caterpillar–it's a beautiful, strong butterfly with many colors.
In the same way, we need to go through the same changes that a butterfly goes through. If you ever took a close look at butterflies, you'd notice that each one is different–no two are exactly the same. We are each different. We're not copies of each other. However, we were made in the wonderful image of God. The way we live our lives should be a reflection of the transformation that He has made in our lives.
What does your life say about your creator? Are you still that little caterpillar? Or are you willing to undergo the transformations you need to become a beautiful butterfly?
