I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2

Whenever we see the word "therefore" in any Bible verses, we should find out what it is "there for." It usually refers to the facts, truths or circumstances in the immediately preceding verse or verses. And it often expresses a cause and its corresponding effect. In this case of Romans 12:1, the word "therefore" follows the concerns of Romans chapters 9 to 11 where Paul shared that Israel was still God’s chosen people and that God was not done in dealing with them.

Paul made it clear that the salvation and future of the Gentiles were inextricably linked with that of the Jews. Because of the way of how God dealt with Israel pertaining to their unfaithfulness and disobedience, Paul beseeched the Roman believers not to fall into the same errors that the Jews had done to invoke the anger of God. And not only that, for the sake of the salvation of Israel, by the mercies of God, the Gentile believers should arise and become a living sacrifice that would be a strong testimony and witness for Christ so that they would be able to provoke the Jews to jealousy (Romans 11:14). If they were able to do so, Israel would be saved. In fact, Paul, by the Spirit of God, already claimed that all Israel would be saved (Romans 11:26).

Note that Paul used the term "present your bodies a living sacrifice." It is a living sacrifice (KJV / NKJV / NASB / TLB / RSV / ASV) and not living sacrifices (NIV). Why is this so? For us to shine for Jesus for the world to see, we need the corporate effort of the whole Church, the Body of Christ. In fact, in the same chapter of Romans 12 verse 5, Paul stated that "we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." God is coming for one living sacrifice, the Church. In Ephesians 5:26-27, Paul gave us this picture of this one living sacrifice of the Church, about how God "might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Our High Priest Jesus Christ is going to present the one living sacrifice to God!

With this in mind, we would then begin to understand that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. What is this will of God? In 2 Peter 3:9, the Apostle to the Jews gave us this clue: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Note that Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles whereas Peter was sent to the Jews. Obviously, herein we can see that the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is the salvation of Israel, and also the salvation of all the nations of the earth.

It is our reasonable service to God to be available to His calling and commissioning. It is the only logical reason for our true existence. We have this Great Commission to fulfill – the salvation of the whole earth including Israel. When we face with such an awesome task and responsibility, we would be watchful in our daily living and endeavours. When we begin to see that what we think, do and say can affect the whole Body of Christ, we should present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. This is truly our reasonable service. When one suffers, all suffer. When one rejoices, all rejoice! This is the Body of Christ at work in relation with our Lord Jesus as our Head and Master.

We should not be conformed to this world, doing our own things without considering the causes and effects we can bring to others. We need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This transformation is a permanent change. It is not about changing constantly but being changed forever! The Greek word "transformed" is metamorphoo, which describes a metamorphosis like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. The same word is used to describe Jesus in His glorious transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3). The only other instance that the Apostle Paul used this word "transformed" is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Again here we have one same image. That is the image of Christ, our God and King! And it is not by human wisdom and doing. It is by the Spirit of the Lord!