“28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those whom He predestined, these also He called; and whom He called, these also He justified; and whom He justified, these also He glorified.”

— Romans 8:28-30

“1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

— Romans 12:1-2

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Praise the Lord for filling your days with His grace, mercy, peace and joy,

From the time we were reborn with God’s eternal life, we entered a transforming process. The goal of this process is that we believers will be conformed to the image of His Son. It happens when we present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service and seek to be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

And this transformation unfolds when we seek to follow the teaching and example of Jesus, and when we are drawn forward by a grateful love. It is guided by Holy Scripture, empowered by the Holy Spirit and manifested in the fruit of the Spirit as we fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. God’s grand purpose for the world to come then is in the process of coming into being in the present through the redeeming Christ, and by the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.