Love Reigns:

In a world that constantly bombards us with messages, expectations, and patterns, it's easy to find ourselves conforming to its mold without even realizing it. But what if there was a different way to live? What if we could break free from the world's programming and experience a transformative love that reigns over our present?

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, offers us a profound invitation:

"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. 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)

These verses encapsulate a powerful truth: because of God's great mercy, demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to live differently. We're called to be "living sacrifices," no longer conforming to the patterns of this world but allowing our minds to be renewed and transformed.

But what does this look like in practice? Let's explore three key points that can help us embrace this transformative way of living.

1. Our Choices Reveal Who Reigns in Our Life

Think back to the childhood game "Simon Says." In many ways, this simple game reflects how the world operates today. We're constantly bombarded with messages telling us how to think, what to say, what's acceptable, and how to feel. Without realizing it, we can become slaves to voices that don't have our best interests at heart.

However, God's love offers us another option. Instead of blindly following the world's instructions, we can choose to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. As Ephesians 5:9 reminds us, "the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth."

Our past is a collection of choices, and our future is determined by the choices we make today. The decisions we make, the things we choose to do or not do, reveal who or what we're listening to. Are our choices a result of obedience to God, or are they influenced by the world's patterns?

2. Changing Your Patterns Will Change Your Life

The world around us has patterns that often lead to brokenness. These patterns can become routine, done mindlessly, and shape the way we think. But the good news is that we can change—if we want to.

Jesus died so that we could experience transformation in our thinking, our life, and our speech. He offers us the choice between an abundant life and a life of struggle, between thriving and merely surviving. But to embrace this change, we must purposefully create new patterns and habits.

How do we do this? By continually renewing our minds. This means intentionally programming God's Word into our lives and living it out. As Paul exhorts in Philippians 4:9, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

To identify patterns that need changing, we sometimes need to shift our perspective. We might even need someone to speak hard truths to us. It's crucial to ask ourselves: What patterns am I conforming to? Do they bear fruit? What is programming my thoughts? Am I kingdom-focused, or am I focused on myself?

3. Trade Your Will for God's Will

The ultimate outcome of a sacrificial life and a renewed mind is the ability to discern God's will for our lives. Many of us desire to know God's will when it comes to big decisions about our careers, families, or ministries. But what if we put that same effort into asking God to change our unproductive patterns, attitudes, mindsets, and speech?

The truth is, if it's not Jesus coming out of us, it's the world. We need to let Him change us through His reign of love, mercy, and grace over our lives. This requires daily discipline:

1. Spend time in prayer
2. Read the Scriptures
3. Be still and listen for God's voice

By giving God our focus and attention, we program His Word and patterns into our lives.

A Powerful Illustration

Imagine driving through the Rocky Mountains for the first time. You've seen them from above, flying over them many times, and they looked impressive. But when you're actually driving through them, alongside these massive formations, you gain a completely different appreciation for God's artistry.

In the same way, Paul's goal in Romans 12:1 is to change the way we see our lives. Too often, we walk around grumbling and complaining about our circumstances because we're focused on ourselves. But when we view our lives through the lens of God's mercies, everything changes.

God doesn't desire obligated offerings or ritualistic sacrifices. As Psalm 51:16-17 beautifully expresses:

"You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."

What God truly wants is a repentant heart that chooses Him freely, without walls or obligation. It's His goodness and mercy that bring about this change of heart.

The Challenge

Today, we're faced with a choice. Will we continue to conform to the patterns of this world, or will we allow God's love to reign in our lives? Will we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God?

Remember, a living sacrifice has the ability to crawl off the altar whenever it wants. Our challenge is to stay surrendered, to continually renew our minds, and to test our thinking against God's will.

As we do this, we'll find ourselves being transformed. We'll break free from destructive patterns and embrace the abundant life Jesus offers. We'll discover that true freedom comes not from following our own will, but from submitting to God's perfect will.

So today, let's invite the love of Jesus to reign in our lives. Let's give Him our undivided time and attention. Let's offer up the old patterns we've noticed in our lives and ask God to reveal the changes we need to make. As we do, we can trust in His love to lead us forward into a life that's truly transformed.