To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 6, Day 1 - The Grain Must Die to Produce Fruit
To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 6, Day 2 - The Change Comes Both From Within and Without
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1–2
Offering all that we are to God means surrendering everything without holding back — our thoughts, words, deeds, desires, talents, our bodies, and our possessions. To do this, we must begin by letting God’s grace renew our minds, to remake them in the image of Christ. This allows grace to reshape our thoughts and our wills so that we worship God with our every thought, emotion, word, and action. As we are transformed within, the seed of grace manifests itself in our daily living as we show God’s love to a hurting world.
God also uses the circumstances of our lives to bring about this transformation. Every struggle we experience helps us to grow stronger in faith as we persevere and overcome. Every joyful triumph and godly success calls us to offer thanksgiving and a deeper commitment to the One who has provided for us. Every person we meet and every event in our lives is an opportunity to grow in grace and perfection as we conform to the will of God and daily offer our lives back to him.
Questions for Reflection
How has the Holy Spirit transformed you from within? How is he still working to transform you?
What external factors in your life might the Holy Spirit be using right now to change you and help you grow?
Does your inner transformation manifest itself in your actions? What is one action you can take today to share your transformation with others?
Why is it considered a joy to work out our salvation through acts of love?
Praying with Scripture
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17)
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
