¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.^{(A) 2} Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[a](B)

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe,

⁵ like living stones let yourselves be built^[a] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^(A)

²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God.^(A)

²¹ but test everything; hold fast to what is good;^(A)

³ This is right and acceptable before God our Savior,^(A)

¹⁰ to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,

¹⁸ The one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and has human approval.^(A)