Apart from the mercy of God, we would all be trapped in the prison of our own stubbornness forever: indeed, Paul can write that “God has imprisoned all in disobedience” (Romans 11:32) – but he immediately follows that with this response: “so that he may be merciful to all.” This is because, as we saw yesterday, God has gifted us and called us irrevocably (11:29).

It is on this basis, then, that Paul would urge us to respond to God’s grace. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters” – when we see the word ‘therefore’ we should ask what it’s there for: in this case, it is there for declaring that chapter 11 is the basis for the appeal that Paul is about to make – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (12:1). The “by the mercies of God” points us back toward what God has done in saving us. That’s the basis, right there. And on that basis, the “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” points us forward to dedication, service, and worship.

We should see then that it cannot be the case that our faithfulness, our discipleship, our Christian life, could ever be the cause of God’s mercy. Paul scoffed at the very idea: “Who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” (11:35). Instead, God’s mercy comes first: it is the cause, and our response is the effect. God has given this astonishing grace, irrevocably: because of this, we set our hearts in steadfast faithfulness.

It’s not automatic, of course. It will always be the case that the world around us will try to get us to follow the social norms, the prevailing culture, of any given day. Yet “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (12:2). We will discern the will of God, and our worship will be holy and spiritual, as we live in deliberate response to our Lord’s gracious mercy.

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Oh, the depth of your riches and wisdom and knowledge, O God! How unsearchable are your judgments: how inscrutable your ways! All things come from you; all things are realized through you; and all things belong to you. May you receive the glory, in this world and in our lives, forever.

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