"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1,2).


We have a butterfly weed in our backyard which attracts Monarch butterflies. This is a photo I took of a monarch caterpillar feeding on one of our butterfly weeds (aka milkweed plants). The larvae feed on these plant leaves for about two weeks developing into caterpillars about 2 inches long.

Next it will transform into a pupa (or chrysalis) and in about two weeks complete the transformation into a butterfly. I searched in vain this morning for a pupa on one of our plants (see below for a link to an interesting site with a photo.)

God is in the process of transforming us.  One of my earliest memories of one-on-one discipling was based on our daily verse. A friend drew a diagram on a napkin illustrating this truth and I have often drawn spiritual strength and encouragement from that teaching through the years.

The Scriptures call us to some personal responsibility in the God-ordained process of transformation. In each step of the butterfly's development it merely follows the pattern the Creator designed for it. I do not believe there is any internal resistance to being transformed.

However in our case we battle sin, the flesh and the devil. God's intention is so very clear in the first verse. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

But we have a responsibility in not conforming any longer to the pattern of this world and in the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not for a short season, but a lifelong commission. We are being transformed and it seems that this phase will not be complete until the next stage of our existence, when we go to heaven.

God no longer asks us to offer blood sacrifices, but instead He calls us to offer up our body to Him as a "living sacrifice".  A reality of being a living sacrifice is the tendency to keep jumping off the altar.   This means we must continue to surrender our body, mind and spirit to Him, which is holy and pleasing to God and is our spiritual act of worship.

An old song of commitment comes to mind as I complete this encouragement. We sang it often in my early days of ministry but it still rings true and is my heart's expression today.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary,
Pure and holy tried and true,
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you. *


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer:  "Jesus, as we earnestly seek and follow You our minds are being renewed daily.  Our ambitions, goals, and affections are being transformed into Your likeness.  The ways of the world have less grip on us as we transfix our thoughts upon the Author and Finisher of our faith.  It is in dying to the world that we become alive unto Christ and it is through Your mercy that we offer our lives today as living sacrifices.  Amen."

Info about the Monarch butterfly or for a site with more extensive info.


* "Sanctuary" John W. Thompson, Randy Scruggs © 1982 Whole Armor Music/Full Armor Publishing  CCLI #2005306