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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. —Romans 8:1 Imagine yourself in a courtroom, but no ordinary one. It’s like a courtroom-stadium—countless millions are watching. You’re the defendant, and God is the judge. And you’re not on trial just for one act, but your whole life. When the judge asks for your plea, as to whether you have lived perfectly to his glory in every thought, word, and deed, the answer is plain to all: “Guilty as charged.” Then, when the judge raises his gavel, and lowers it with a thud that echoes through the stadium, he speaks these shocking and amazing words, “No condemnation.” No Condemnation Typically at the end of a trial, the judge declares the defendant either condemned or justified . The condemned have been shown to be guilty of wrongdoing, and they are sentenced and punished. But the justified go free. They have been shown to be innocent of the charges, and thus right-doers rather than wrongdoers. In a human trial, it is a horrible thing when someone who is innocent is condemned. But this never happens in God’s courtroom. No human, other than Jesus the God-man, has ever lived an innocent life perfectly dedicated to the glory of God. God knows everything, and He never condemns the innocent in his court. But if God never condemns the innocent, how is it then that He sometimes sets the guilty free; as Romans 4:5 says, he “justifies the ungodly”? In Jesus The key is the last little phrase in Romans 8:1: “for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Being “in Jesus” means being connected to Him by faith. Even though we are here on earth and Jesus in all His human perfection is seated at His Father’s right hand in heaven, the Holy Spirit can join us to Jesus through faith. Those of us who believe in Him are connected to Him, and so when the Father views us, He sees us not in our lives full of guilt and rebellion and the treason of sin, but in the very innocence and perfection of his Son, who lived a life perfectly to his glory in thought, word, and deed. For those of us who are “in Jesus” by faith, we are declared righteous, and wonder upon wonder, there is no condemnation for us in heaven’s courtroom. Now One final thing to point to is the little word now . There is now no condemnation for those of us who by faith are in Jesus. Not only do we know that one day when we stand before God and his crucified and risen Son, in the presence of the whole universe, that despite our sin and unrighteousness, we will be declared righteous, not condemned, because of Jesus. But also, by faith we know now —already now in this life—that we are not condemned. We don’t have to wait and see whether our lives will prove good enough to earn God’s favor and acceptance, because the only possible way to gain such favor is Jesus, and only Jesus, who we already now are connected to by faith. Those who are in Jesus now by trusting in Him, already have the words no condemnation pronounced over them by the God of the universe. We are accepted by God, now. We are considered to be righteous, now. Even now, we can assure ourselves that the difficulties and pains that come into our lives may be our Father’s loving discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11), but they are never His condemnation, in any way, shape, or form. For those who are in Jesus by faith, there is no condemnation, now.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ⁶He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [⁸Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.] —Psalm 62:5-7 [8] Though we don’t know what occasioned Psalm 62, we can see from verses 3 and 4 that David was under attack and feeling battered. His enemies were plotting to bring him down and he seemed to be at the end of his strength–like “a leaning wall and tottering fence.” Yet David found safety and security beyond the reach of his adversaries. David appeared to be outnumbered, surrounded, and friendless. His enemies seemed to be winning, about to strike the death blow. How could such enemies exist in a kingdom ruled by the man after God’s own heart? We couldn’t fault David for feeling alone, unloved, and unprotected. It would not seem strange for anyone at such a point to feel abandoned by God. It’s tempting to think of valiant David responding immediately to this trial with the words of this psalm but perhaps that would be forgetting his humanity. He was bruised and beaten, “tottering” like a prize fighter ready to fall, grasping the ropes of the ring to steady himself and catch his breath. We can imagine David working hard to drown out the beleaguered inner voice telling him he’s lost and been undone by superior forces. The scene is familiar. Hope dwindling, strength failing, light darkening, and then, at the last moment, a hand reaches down to help. With almost no strength left, David grabs desperately to the Hand reaching down to him. God pulls him up toward the solid ground where David now stands, unshaken in the midst of turmoil, knowing that God alone is his “rock, salvation, fortress, glory, mighty rock and refuge.” As David struggles to trust, he waits, in silence, for God. These three notes sing harmoniously together, ascending in scale and height. Wait We don’t often like waiting. Our impatience rises as we wait for our Uber, for a line to move, for test results. Waiting can be excruciating when the situation seems urgent, fearful, or unjust. We desperately seek a good resolution: vindication, apology, healing, reward. It’s understandable to feel shaken, in need of solace and hope, when things around us seem chaotic or don’t make sense.  Though it’s difficult, waiting has its benefits. It gives time for the situation to become clearer, for the truth to come out, for rational thinking and calm. Better still, it allows time to meditate on God’s character—His goodness and trustworthiness, strength and power, faithfulness and wisdom–and to remember His great and precious promises. It is to our benefit to receive God's gift of waiting to allow patience to have its perfect work (James 1:2-4 NKJV). In silence When we experience reverential wonder and awe of God, silence is the right response. Similarly, when we witness God’s holy and righteous judgment–we should take no issue with it or attempt to intervene or charge God with wrongdoing. Silence is fitting when we consider the limits of our flesh. Wisdom and humility dictate that we hold our peace, knowing when not  to speak: when we are beyond our understanding and we realize that we are out of our depth.  Perhaps the most difficult is silence in the face of injustice. The natural response is to defend ourselves or rally assistance to our cause, but David didn’t. David found silent rest, waiting for God to act on his behalf, just as Moses directed the Israelites when trapped by the thunderous advance of Pharaoh’s chariots and horses toward the Red Sea (Exodus 14:14). Peter reminds us that when Jesus was falsely accused He kept silent, entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). He calls us to do likewise. This is the way to endure silently, waiting in hope and trust. For God Simple rest, or trust, is not enough; it doesn’t protect us nor does it guarantee the just and satisfactory outcome we desire. Only God can do that. In the same way that faith is only as good as its object, so it is with this kind of trust–it rests in God alone. Only God sees and hears everything, is not indifferent to our suffering, and has the wisdom and power to act perfectly. God alone can be for us–as He was for David–a “rock, salvation, fortress, glory, refuge.” There is nothing else that can support such confidence. We can wait, in silence, for God, trusting Him with the outcome, knowing that the Judge of all the earth will do right. We no longer need to concern ourselves with gaining justice, vindication, or man's salvation. We can know that in God's hands everything will be made right and we will be cared for, both now and eternally. That's the best and only rest there is, the quiet rest of a child in its mother’s arms (Psalm 131:2). For Reflection What are you waiting on God for, and what are you learning as you wait? Carve out moments this week to sit silently before God to contemplate His character and His ways. Consider God's works in your life. What has He done that no one else could have? Gio Lynch is a Brooklyn, NY native who serves Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. as Children's Ministry Administrator. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping and 18th century English country dancing.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ⁶He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [⁸Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.]—Psalm 62:5-7[8] Here is a battle-cry. It is the faith-filled boast of a saint embraced by gospel hope. What security rests behind our declaration of God as our rock, salvation, fortress, refuge? On what ground do we make such a boast in the midst of our uncertainties and darkness? In a sermon entitled “ Christ Crucified , Our Boast,” John Piper writes: . . . [F]or the Christian, all boasting should be a boasting in the cross. All exultation should be exultation in the cross. If you exult in the hope of glory, let it be an exulting in the cross of Christ. If you exult in tribulation because tribulation works hope, let it be an exulting in the cross of Christ. If you exult in God, you are exulting in the cross of Christ. If you exult in your weaknesses, let it be an exulting in the cross of Christ. Why is this the case? Because for redeemed sinners, every good thing—indeed every bad thing that God turns for good—was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from the death of Christ, sinners get nothing but judgment. Apart from the cross of Christ, there is only condemnation. Therefore, everything that you enjoy in Christ—everything you boast in, everything you exult in—is owing to the death of Christ. And all your exultation in other things is to be an exultation in the cross where all your blessings were purchased for you at the cost of Christ’s life.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ⁶He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [⁸Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.] — Psalm 62:5-7 [8] It was a jolting surprise to discover, on studying the verses above, that this passage is a thumbnail sketch of my life. Read on and see if it isn’t one for your life, too. David’s prayer is a pattern for all, showing us how to walk through life with our God, and why . He stresses three mighty commands to himself and to his people: Wait in silence Trust in Him Pour out your heart before Him He also pens a bountiful list of reasons why any Christian would turn to this God on a daily basis, in order to gain what David had. He proclaims that God is his: Hope Rock Salvation Fortress Steadiness and Strength Glory Refuge These are not descriptors easily won by David. His life had been a nightmare of living a step away from sudden extinction. He fought battle after bloody battle for Saul; was doggedly pursued by Saul—whose sole purpose was to kill him; and then, as the King of Israel, he constantly defended his people against their numerous enemies. David lived in crisis for the major part of his life. Writing this great passage of commendation to God, he reminds himself, with wisdom born of constant experience: Wait for God, for God alone, O my soul! God alone can defeat Saul—God alone can win the battle. Wait for His direction; wait for His Word for the right time to act. Wait on God for light as to the best strategy; wait for God to reveal His perfect will in all matters. Be patient; wait! Then David, loving God and loving his people, urges them, “Trust in Him at all times, O people.” This isn’t just a good idea that David proposes—this works! God honors faith. When you trust in God, you can count on His absolute faithfulness to intervene in whatever situation you meet. Finally, David counsels them with the key instruction: “Pour out your heart before God.” We know by reading his magnificent psalm that David pours out all the griefs that weigh his heart down. He does not whine to himself, or bemoan his fate to a friend, but silently, alone, pours it all out to his Father, God Almighty. David then declares that He has found God to be all things to Him because He has sought Him as his Refuge, Hope, Salvation, Rock, Fortress, Strength, and Glory. Can we shake the familiar ink and paper off these verses and understand that they live— that they can be taken hold of and wielded to provide us a joyous existence of hope and confidence? Brothers and sisters, David’s words are true and powerful. We have to do them. We must pour out our love and concerns to our God. We must trust Him, implicitly, and we must wait for Him to direct and to provide. He becomes for us the protector, provider that He was for David. Looking back over seven decades of trusting Jesus Christ, I can see that this is exactly how God has faithfully helped and delivered me. Every word David wrote is wise and true! They reveal God’s immense commitment, passion, and jealous love for His own. Can you say the same of Him? May God give us a hunger for Himself that will drive us, like David, to seek and trust our faithful Lord! For Reflection If you want to love your Savior more intensely, pour out your heart to Him. Tell Him specific reasons you're grateful for His provision. If you want to press on to know Him more completely, pour out your heart to Him. You will get to know Him in ever-increasing dimensions as your unshakeable Rock, as your mighty Fortress, as your complete Refuge, as your powerful Savior, as your unfailing Strength. And if you want to glorify Almighty God, pour out your heart to Him, then share with others the remarkable deeds that He will do for you.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ⁶He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [⁸Trust in him a t all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.] — Psalm 62:5-7 [8] As you memorize this week's passage, ask God to open your mind and heart to His Word and to help you respond with deeper worship and trust in Him. Observe the context Psalm 62 displays King David’s trust in God in the midst of betrayal by those closest to him. It likely was written on the occasion of his son Absalom’s rebellion against him and the throne. There are clues in verses 3, 4, 9, and 10 that this conflict had been one of prolonged testing for David. Yet he reminds himself that man-made schemes for deliverance cannot be trusted; riches cannot be trusted; and even if the suffering is long, only God can be trusted completely, and at all times. Follow the flow of thought David turns the attention of his soul to God alone: “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (v. 5). David has complete confidence in God. He is preaching truth to his soul in order to overcome deceptive fears and doubts in his trial. We chose Psalm 62:5-8 as a Fighter Verses passage for this very reason: to help you in your fight of faith. You, too, can preach God’s Word of security to your soul every day and let the truth of who God is silence all your fears. Study the truths painted with figurative language God Himself is the one and only security to trust. David uses metaphors to proclaim God’s faithfulness—God is “my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and my salvation.” When we're facing oppression or persecution, oh, how we long for a place of stability, security, and deliverance. God who is our rock will keep us from being shaken. God who is our fortress and refuge will keep us safe. God who is our salvation will deliver us. Wait on Him. Trust in Him. (Notice the possessive pronouns in David’s declaration—David belongs to God and God is his God.) Apply it to your life Waiting on God is not static. It includes trusting God, coming to Him in prayer, worshiping Him, serving Him, and accepting His invitation to be intimate with Him about what is in your heart. Can you hear Psalm 62:8 in Philippians 4:6-7? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What a precious promise this is to stand on in times of trial and testing. Whatever you are facing, take shelter in the living God. For Reflection Perceived persecution or slights can tempt us to self-pity. How is David’s anguish different? How is his response free from self-centeredness? In what ways can Psalm 62:5-8 help you fight against self-pity? List some ways that waiting on God is different from other types of waiting (i.e. waiting for a doctor's appointment, for a late friend, or in traffic). Accept God’s invitation to come to Him and pour out your heart before Him—He alone is your rock, your fortress, your refuge, and your salvation. (Portions of this article are taken from The Inductive Bible Study Handbook available from Truth78.)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 Little feet pattering down the hallway awaken me with a start. I know what’s coming: “Mommy, I can’t sleep. I’m scared.” It’s happened countless times over the years with my six children. Most of the time the solution is simple: We sing Psalm 56:3-4 together. I remind my fearful child to think about what is true. Then we pray, I give another hug and kiss, and pull up cozy covers as I tuck my kiddo back into bed. If only it were that easy as adults to overcome fear and trust in God. The reality is that fear follows us throughout our lives. Even grown adults have trouble sleeping because of it!  David was no stranger to fear. When he penned this psalm he had just started running for his life from King Saul (see 1 Samuel 20-21). He had a tangible reason to be afraid. When we find ourselves in physical danger—like David did—fear is our natural, physical, reaction. But what about when we give ourselves over to fears that we create in our own mind by dwelling on what might— or might not — happen in the future? David offers the solution to all fear, both real and imagined: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” He doesn’t say if I am afraid, but when. No one is immune to fear. It’s going to happen. David goes on to tell us how we can loosen fear’s hold by turning our thoughts toward the Almighty God.  Praise His Word  We are prone to believe lies about God, ourselves, and our circumstances. Our fears reveal the lies we believe even when we don’t recognize them. This is why memorizing Scripture is essential. When fears threaten to overwhelm us, we can turn our thoughts to praise God’s Word. His Word is truth (John 17:17). In the midst of distress, focusing on God’s Word brings peace to our restless hearts and minds. Purpose to Trust  David uses his will to redirect his mind from fear to trust. We know from experience that this is not easy. The more we dwell on our fears, the stronger they grasp our heart. It takes more than determination to turn our minds away from the things we fear, toward trusting in God. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome our temptation to let fear paralyze us or steal our joy and peace. Ask for His grace and help in your time of need in order to trust our Almighty God. Put Fears in Perspective Because David anchors his trust in God’s sovereignty, he can ask rhetorically, “What can flesh do to me?” Even though an army of flesh and blood was literally coming against him, he knew that man could only do what God allowed, and that for His good  purposes. We may not find ourselves being hunted by men, but still we need David’s strong sense of God’s sovereignty to help us in our circumstances. God is in complete control, always. What He brings into our lives, He wondrously uses for our benefit and His glory.  Fear gives the illusion of control but doesn’t alter the future or bring about good. It’s reactive, not proactive, sapping our energy and wasting precious time. When you’re afraid, focus your thoughts on trusting God. Praise His Word and remember His promises. Learn to say with David, “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” For Reflection How do you respond when you’re afraid? How can you focus your heart and mind on trusting God when fear strikes? How can knowing God is sovereign and always in control bring you comfort in the midst of real or imagined fear? Make a list of Fighter Verses you’ve memorized with the power to calm your mind when you’re afraid. Thank God for His powerful Word and ask Him to help you praise His Word and not be afraid. Rachel Coyle  is a biblical counselor, Bible teacher, and author of Help! I'm Angry , a mini-book for teens and their parents from Shepherd Press LifeLine for Teens series . She and her husband Philip have six children. Scripture memory plays a pivotal role in their parenting and homeschooling as they sing, write, and discuss the meaning and application of passages. The Coyles live in South Carolina where they're members of Boiling Springs First Baptist Church.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 The question, “What can flesh do to me?” begs perspective. Really , we ask, what can flesh really do to me? What can flesh do to me when my God is the God who created all flesh? My God is sovereign and all things exist from Him, through Him, and to Him. What can flesh do to me when my God is the God to whom one day all flesh will bow? My God is good and He will put the world to rights by saving the repentant and judging the wicked. What can flesh do to me when my God is the God who Himself became flesh? My sovereign and good God humbled Himself to be like me and to bear in his body what I should fear the most—the fury of his righteous wrath. Jesus Christ suffered in my place, was punished for my guilt, was condemned for my crime, and was raised for my justification. Now my asking becomes a blood-bought taunt: Death, where is your sting? If God is for us who can be against us? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? Who is to condemn? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Pray tell who? What? How? Really, what can flesh do to me?

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 If you’ve ever had a panic attack, you know it's not like run-of-the-mill fear. Maybe you've been afraid to speak in front of a group. Or afraid of financial failure. Panic attack fear is not like that. It is irrational—dark, debilitating, and very difficult to describe. Years ago, when little was known about what causes panic attacks, I lived with this fear. One moment I would be basking on the beach of well-being and then, without warning, I'd be hit by the tsunami of overwhelming, crushing fear. The wave would rise up out of what I thought were peaceful waters and come breaking down, stripping away all my sense of security. The panic would tear at my soul and leave me grabbing desperately for an anchor. When I had my first panic attack, I was newly born again in Christ. I came to realize that it's possible for fear and faith to occupy the same mind. When David wrote Psalm 56, he expressed his fear, and his trust in God, in the same breath. “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.” As a new believer, I was just beginning to understand the depth of my sin and the power of the cross of Christ to deliver me. As God is faithful to do with all of His children, He put me in the school of learning to trust Him—no matter what. He began the work of growing my dependence on Him through panic attacks that drove me to His Word. Ironically, these were sweet times of such joy—of being sheltered in His tabernacle (Psalm 27:5), feasting on the bread of His word, and learning the depths of His covenant that I never would have known without such suffering. He is true and faithful! I experienced what David wrote in verse 9, “God is for me.” When the tsunami wave of fear came rushing in, God stood with me in it, holding me firm in the anchor of His promises. I could say with David, “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” When I think back on the years of living with panic attacks, I am amazed at the sufficiency of God’s grace. His grace is more than enough. My life in Christ, and the glory I desire to bring Him, is not dependent upon my strength, but on His power that is made perfect in my weakness. I will gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9). May Christ’s power rest on us. We do not need to look far to find reasons to fear. But God is always teaching us to trust and depend on Him completely; to not be afraid; to remember that neither life nor death, our own weaknesses and strengths, the power of flesh and blood, or the spiritual forces we cannot see—none of these can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Whoever believes in Him will never perish, but will have everlasting life. Indeed, what can flesh do to me? (Romans 8:38-39; John 3:16; Psalm 56:4) For Reflection 1. Make a chart things that cause you to panic, worry, or fear on the left side. On the right side, list a corresponding promise in God’s Word that will anchor you and strengthen your faith in Christ. 2. Meditate on those corresponding promises of God. Preach them to your soul and look to God to give you His power to glorify Him in all things, even in your fears and weaknesses.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 Psalms is a book of poetry containing Israel’s prayers and worship songs. It includes a variety of psalms—for thanksgiving, praise, wisdom, remembrance, celebration, and lament. Interestingly, there are more psalms of lament than any other category. Psalm 56 is one of these psalms of lament. In it, David is pressed between Saul’s murderous pursuit of him and escape into the company of Israel’s fiercest enemy (1 Samuel 21:10-13). He is battling emotions of anguish, fear, and suffering and turns to God with a heartrending plea, “Be gracious to me, O God…” (Psalm 56:1). He is earnest to conquer, not in his own strength but by trusting in God. David is afraid for his life, but he knows what God has said and he knows that God is trustworthy—“in God whose word I praise…in God I trust.” We see David’s battle to bring his emotions into submission to God’s will by reminding himself of God’s character: God is gracious. (Psalm 56:1) God is greater than any person or thing. (Psalm 56:3-4) God is with David and fully aware of his emotional state. (Psalm 56:8) God created David and is sovereign over his life. (Psalm 56:8) God is for David. (Psalm 56:9) God is the Deliverer from death. (Psalm 56:12-13) God is trustworthy. (Psalm 56:3-4, 10-11) When we forget God, we are subject to fear. But we are not without hope. We can turn to Psalm 56 and remember who God is. He is more powerful than anything we fear. He is our comfort. For Reflection When you are afraid, what do you do? What has God promised to do, if you will turn to Him? (See Psalms 23:4; 46:1; 118:5-7.) David’s fears were founded—his life was threatened by powerful men. Yet his hope was in God. Can you think of fears you have that are unfounded? How should you respond to them? If you belong to God by grace through faith in Christ, and are growing in your knowledge of Him, you won't be controlled by fear of what people can do to you. Place your trust in God and praise His Word. It may help you to write out your prayer of trust in Him.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1-2 Romans 12:1-2 opens a new section of the Apostle Paul’s letter. After explaining the Christian’s justification, sanctification, and glorification in chapters 1-11, he now turns to what would be the sacred response in the heart of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can hear Paul’s shepherding heart in the way he begins, “I appeal to you.” The Greek word for appeal is parakaleo . It depicts one coming alongside you, putting his arm on your shoulder, earnestly saying, “I beg you, please.” And this appeal comes with all the enabling power of the mercies of God explained in Romans 1-11. He appeals that you “…present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” You may be asking how this can happen. For something to be sacrificed, doesn’t it require the death of the sacrifice? Jesus laid down His life for us that we might have life in Him. We are justified in Him, sanctified in Him, and glorified in Him. He sacrificed Himself that every believer would have the high position of “worshiper of God.” While here in our earthly bodies, we are to give ourselves as a living sacrifice worshiping God with all that we are—putting ourselves under His loving authority, at His disposal; rejecting the world’s system; set apart for Him; reflecting Him to a fallen world. This act of consecration—presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice—is a personal presentation to Him with ongoing effect. Then he says, “Do not be conformed to this world.” We are not to act as we once did before we trusted Jesus by faith. Conformity to the world does not reflect in truth what God has done within us—given us the righteousness and holiness of God. We need to let the watching world see that we are ambassadors for Christ in what we say and do. Finally, Paul says, “But be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” God’s mercies poured out on us in Christ create in us a longing for transformation. And as we yield to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, our thoughts begin to reflect the new life we have in Christ. The Holy Spirit’s transforming work becomes evident as our minds are renewed through learning and treasuring God’s Word. We begin to realize in practical ways that we are no longer slaves to sin but set free to enjoy God and live for His glory, no matter the cost. With the renewal of our minds, we grow in our ability to “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," says Matthew Henry. "And by ‘the will of God’ here we are to understand this to be His revealed will concerning the believer’s duty, what the Lord our God requires of us” (Commentary on Romans) . The truth and goodness of God’s commands begin to ring like a bell in our hearts when preached from the pulpit or read in the Bible or spoken by our fellow believers. Walking according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh is now a sanctifying reality for the believer. This consecrated training in the will of God results in ongoing transformation that God promises to complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). For Reflection Consider Romans 11:33-36. What phrase in this passage makes “presenting your body a living sacrifice to God” a reasonable thing to do? In what ways should a believer’s outward behavior conform to the inward reality of new life in Christ Jesus? Do you concentrate your thinking on things of the world or on the things of God? What must you do to renew your mind?

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1-2 Have you ever watched God do something that was so completely and obviously out of any one’s control, that He alone, in His kindness, can get credit for? In November 2014, God graciously gave me an opportunity to donate one of my kidneys to my brother-in-law, Travis. Travis is married to my husband’s sister, so we are not related by blood. This makes me being compatible truly amazing. The odds are 1 out of 100,000 that an unrelated person would be a match. To get the full picture of this, imagine a large sports arena like the one in Dallas, Texas that seats 80,000 people. Add 20,000 more, stick me in the middle and, wow, that's the statistical likelihood that I would be a match. Organ matching is no small thing. Yet, God, our Great Creator, knew when He knitted Travis in his mother’s womb— and me in mine—that this day would come. His wise, sovereign hand had been working all along, bringing us together for His glory. Throughout the detailed testing process of becoming a living donor and seeing if my kidney was compatible with Travis’s, God kept me in perfect peace as I kept my mind “stayed on Him," looking expectantly at what He would do and trusting Him with the outcome (Isaiah 26:3-4). People would often ask me if I was nervous about giving one of my organs away, and in those moments, the Holy Spirit would bring to mind verses I had memorized, reminding me that God knows the number of our days, when as yet there are none of them (Psalm 139:16). He assured me that I do not need to be afraid. During my recovery when the days seemed long and I wasn’t feeling the best, renewing my mind with God’s Word helped me fight discouragement. Travis and I would encourage each other with truth and marvel at God’s amazing works. Just as God can renew our bodies by whatever means He chooses, His Word renews our minds, giving us fresh glimpses of His faithfulness and grace. The world tries to convince us that we should live for ourselves in the here and now; God calls us to sacrifice. As He gives us eyes to see, we begin to understand that the most sacrificial offering of all time was already given. God Himself gave the Son, Jesus Christ. There are some things that you just can’t keep to yourself! This is one of them. Psalm 105:1-2 says, “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” May He be praised! For Reflection Where is God calling you to make sacrifices in your daily life, according to His will? Are there areas of your life that have been subtly shaped or conformed to the world’s way of thinking? Are you renewing your mind with the Word of God, praying, meditating on, and memorizing to help you now?

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ³⁴"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" ³⁵"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" ³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 Journey with me through Romans 1-11. We see the terribly sinful condition of our hearts—and the hearts of all humanity—in Romans 1:18-3:19. We discover the great work of Jesus on the cross to provide a righteousness and a sacrifice so that we could be justified by faith alone apart from works of the law in Romans 3:20-5:21. We learn of the mighty sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to conquer sin and make us secure in Jesus’ love in Romans 6-8. Then we find the great defense of the God’s sovereign grace and promise-keeping faithfulness in Romans 9-11, climaxing with these stunning words in Romans 11:32, “God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”   Now, in response to all this revelation of the ways and judgments of God, Paul breaks into explicit wonder and praise in Romans 11:33-36. This is where God wants us to be when we have journeyed through Romans 1-11: amazed at mercy, and worshipping God through Jesus. This is the response that will make us able to live out the practical moral implications coming in Romans 12-15. Morality in the Christian life is not simply the willpower to do right things, because God has the authority to command them. Christian morality is the overflow of worshiping the sovereign, merciful God. Christian life is the fruit of a mind and heart transformed by seeing and savoring the all-sufficiency and sovereignty and mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ. That will become plain as soon as we turn to chapter 12. There is so much in this passage (I preached two sermons  on it in the Spring of 2004), but in this short devotional, let me just turn your attention to the last verse, which is the conclusion of this passage and the whole of Romans 1-11. Not only are all things from  God and through  God, but, as the end of verse 36 says, “ To him  are all things. To him be glory forever.” Do you love the thought that you exist to make God look glorious? Do you love the thought that all creation exists to display the glory of God? Do you love the truth that all of history is designed by God to one day be a completed canvas that displays in the best way possible the greatness and beauty of God? Do you love the fact that Jesus came into the world to vindicate the righteousness of God and repair the injury that we had done to the reputation of the glory of God? Do you love the truth that you personally exist to make God look like what he really is—glorious? I ask again: Do you love the fact that your salvation is meant to put the glory of God’s grace on display? Do you love seeing and showing the glory of God? This is why God created the universe. This is why he ordained history. This is why he sent his Son. This is why you exist—forever to see and savor and show the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. The question for us at the end of Romans 1-11 is “ do you embrace this calling as your treasure and your joy?” For Reflection There is nothing in the universe that is better than God's glory. Give thanks to our glorious God that He gives His people eyes to see His glory as glorious. Praise Him that our glorious God is near to those who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145). Some people call God a megalomaniac for loving His own glory. Ask Him to open the eyes of unbelievers you know to see the beauty and goodness of His glory in the face of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6). John Piper   is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for thirty-three years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than fifty books, including Desiring God ; Don’t Waste Your Life ; and Providence .