The Practical Christian Life

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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The chief desire of the true Christian is to live to God. The divine life that the believer possesses is evidenced by godly desires, while the Spirit of God, who dwells in His people, is ever most graciously controlling the heart and leading the believer towards God. But we have to look well to ourselves, lest our desires only go that far. God calls upon us to devote ourselves to Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,” says the Apostle, “that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:11I 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. (Romans 12:1)). God gave His Son to die, a sacrifice for us; God expects from us that we give ourselves to Him a continual life sacrifice. This is the path of real holiness, and it is a lifelong path.
Further the exhortation runs, “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” (Rom. 12:1-21I 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. 2And 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 12:1‑2)). The inward work here spoken of is continuous; it is a work that goes on, or should go on, day by day. Perhaps it is a very little day by day, yet it is everyday work. The mind, the seat of man’s intelligence, is graciously acted upon by God the Spirit, and thus through the renewing of it the transforming of the whole man takes place, so that at length the Christian rejoices in what God is and what He delights in.
Let us seek from God for a portion of His Word that may be to us the day’s bread, and let that portion fill our minds, and thus renewing of the mind will take place. Then we shall not be conformed to the world, but shall be transformed to likeness to Christ, and we shall prove for ourselves in our experience what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.
The Young Christian (adapted)