“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2, NASB95)

After taking eleven chapters to comprehensively explain the full gospel, the great missionary now “urges” us to respond.  He urges a response, not for the purpose of salvation, but rather because of salvation.  Referring to us as “brothers and sisters,” he calls to worship by the mercies of God. By God’s great mercies we are to offer ourselves, living, holy, and acceptable on the alter of service to the one who grants us mercy.  For it is by God’s mercy that we have a life to offer. It’s by God’s mercy that we are made holy.  And, it’s by God’s mercy that our lives can possibly be found acceptable.

God created us for worship, He compels us to worship and He enables us to worship.  He transforms our filthy rags of worship into something pleasing to Himself.   And, He does all this by the wonderful blessings of His tender mercies.