Romans 12 1-3

I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh (present age). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust.

Devotional

God’s mercies are referenced throughout chapters 1 – 11, especially in 9 – 11 and explicitly in 11:30-32. This section is the pivotal point of the book of Romans, on which Sha’ul (Paul) turns from doctrine to the practical advice; “I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God.” This is a striking metaphor, in that animal sacrifices were still being made twice daily within Temple worship in Jerusalem.

The warning to Gentiles against boasting and conceit (11:18, 25) is extended to “every single one of You,” because a person committed to doing God’s will is easy prey to delusions of grandeur.