Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) 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.
If we are honest, how many of us would like to please our bosses more than God? We often feel pressured at work to seek promotions or postings by trying to please our bosses. As Christians, shouldn’t we aim to live a life that pleases only God—not because we have to, but because we genuinely want to? We choose this lifestyle out of a heart of gratitude and worship, because we know that it is out of His abundant grace that He has chosen to love us by redeeming us from our sins through the blood of Jesus. Jesus paid the price with His blood to grant us the righteous position before God, which could never be achieved through our strength, merits, and efforts.
Matthew 22:37 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
We must decide and purpose in our heart that we will love God with all our heart, soul, and mind when we work in the world, because there will be many occasions when we are pressured to yield and conform to the world.
The two opening verses advocate that we consecrate our lives and set ourselves apart from the world. This means we do not embrace everything the world practises, especially when it contradicts our Christian values and principles. We are a living sacrifice, which means we must willingly set ourselves apart by making the same choice as Daniel did—to refuse to compromise with the local culture and values as an expression of worship and love for God.
If we are convinced that God has a good and perfect will for our lives, we will not compromise. We are confident that He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will willingly give us all things. However, we must accept that His plan and will for our lives may differ from our plan, and it will also differ significantly from how the world measures success and significance. Our identity is not based on our merits, social standing, or the company we work for. All these will change like shifting sands and fail to help us withstand the challenges that life will throw at us.
Instead, our identity is in Christ. We are children of God who are greatly loved by Him because we are hidden in Christ and blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. It is a firm foundation for us, enabling us to be highly secure emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. It will also help us to face all kinds of challenges in life, including persecution, tribulation, and adversity.
Sermon Series: Vessel for His Glory
不同的生活方式
罗马书12:1-2 所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当做活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉乃是理所当然的。 2 不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。
若坦诚面对自己，我们中有多少人更愿意取悦上司，而非取悦上帝呢？在工作中，我们常常迫于压力，为了谋求晋升或理想的岗位而试图讨好上司。但作为基督徒，我们难道不该以 “只取悦上帝” 为生活目标吗？这并非出于被迫，而是源于内心真切的渴望。我们选择这样的生活方式，是怀着感恩与敬拜的心 —— 因为我们深知，上帝以丰盈的恩典拣选我们、爱我们，借着耶稣的宝血将我们从罪中救赎出来。耶稣以宝血为我们付上代价，使我们在上帝面前得以拥有 “称义” 的地位；这地位，绝非靠我们自身的能力、功绩与努力所能获得。
马太福音22:37 耶稣对他说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主你的神。
当我们在世上工作时，必须在心中立定志向、坚定决心：要尽心、尽性、尽意地爱上帝。因为在这过程中，我们常会面临诸多压力，迫使我们妥协让步、随波逐流。
开篇的两节经文劝勉我们要奉献生命，与世俗分别为圣。这意味着我们不应盲从世俗的一切做法，尤其当这些做法与我们的基督教价值观和原则相抵触时。我们是活祭，就像但以理一样，甘心选择分别为圣——即便在文化的价值观或实践有所不同之处，也仍然持守对神的忠心，把这当作敬拜和爱祂的表达。
若我们确信上帝对我们的生命有美好且完备的旨意，就不会轻易妥协。我们深信，祂连自己的独生子都不愿吝惜，为我们众人将祂赐下，必也乐意将各样恩典都赐给我们。但我们必须接纳：祂对我们生命的计划与旨意，或许与我们自己的计划不同，也必然与世俗衡量成功和价值的标准相去甚远。我们的身份，从不建立在自身的功绩、社会地位或任职的公司之上 —— 这些都如流沙般易变，无法帮我们抵挡生命中将要临到的种种挑战。
相反，我们的身份根基在基督里。我们是上帝所深爱的儿女 —— 因我们藏在基督里，并在天上享有一切属灵的福气。这身份是我们稳固的根基，能让我们在情感、心理和属灵上都拥有十足的安全感；它也必帮助我们面对生命中的各类挑战，包括逼迫、苦难与逆境。
讲道系列：成为祂荣耀的瓦器