O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
— Romans 11:33-12:2
God’s ways are so much higher than our ways! His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts! The riches of his wisdom and knowledge are so much deeper than our minds can fathom! Because of all this, Paul pleads that we present our lives to the Lord in complete subjection, separating ourselves from the world, renewing our minds so that we may know and show the will of God.
But there are some key words we must not skip over:
“by the mercies of God.”
God’s Grace is when He gives us something we do not deserve. God’s Mercy is when He withholds from us something we do deserve. Paul has mentioned mercy a lot in this epistle already (9:15,16,18,23; 11:30-32). In Romans 11:30-31 Paul expounds upon the mercy God has shown to both the Gentiles and Jews in not only providing a way of salvation for them but also allowing them to take part in His plan so they wouldn’t have to live in darkness and ignorance. Verse 32 says, “for God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” God desires to show mercy to EVERYONE! Nobody HAS to live in darkness, ignorant of the meaning of life. Nobody HAS to reject the Lord and go to hell. God’s mercy is available to ALL.
Paul is now in Romans 12:1 pleading with us to remember God’s MERCY. If you have been saved by the grace of God, you have escaped hell! You can now know the will of God for your life. You do not have to walk in ignorance. This is all because of God’s mercy. Paul painted this huge picture of God’s mercy for us in the doctrinal portion of Romans 1-11. He introduces the next section of Romans with the words, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.” This new section (chapters 11-16) is filled with prescriptions for Christian living. In the light of God’s big, merciful plan we have a privilege to take part in, we ought to live right. We have a duty to live right.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” – Romans 6:1-3
It is wonderful thing to be saved! BUT WE CAN’T STOP THERE! So many right now are in panic over the plague of the coronavirus. But apathy is a plague that’s been spreading throughout our churches a lot longer, tearing down the lives of the Redeemed, causing them to miss out on the blessings of being in God’s will. Apathy is contagious! It is hard to stand up in the midst of a church full of apathy and put forth the best of your ability when others seem to be happily living infected with this horrible sin. Remember this though,
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
Many of those seeming to be happily living with the disease of apathy are living defeated, spiritual lives with no power, lacking a healthy, personal relationship with the Lord. Be immune to this plague!
GOD WANTS TO DIRECT OUR PATHS! By the mercies of God, we do not have to walk in darkness. Because of the mercies of God, it is our reasonable duty to live right.
Do you want to live right?
Are you willing to live right?