” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
When you think of sacrifice, in the context of Biblical sacrifice; you know something or Someone has to die. So what does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
The latter part of the verse declares it to be our reasonable act of worship. It represents the sum total of who we are to be; along with all we possess and all that we do. Believers in the Old Testament signified their dedication and consecration to God by offering up sacrifices to be utterly consumed on the altar.
We are to offer ourselves totally before the Lord our God and to be utterly consumed by Him. We must go on living in our fleshly bodies, acknowledging that we are not our own. God dwells within our earthly temple until the day we go home, to forever be with the Lord.
This means more than giving our Sundays to God. We completely and wholly present ourselves to the Lord twenty four seven.
Think back to the day you gave your life to Christ. It was the beginning of a lifetime of devotion and dedication to the One who gave His life for you. It’s God’s picture of earthly marriage.
Weddings are full of beautiful and delicious. Perfect way to begin a couple’s life together. They have verbally spoken their vows; committing to a lifetime of daily living. It’s no longer me but we.
“For better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, until death do we part.”
Over time, couples grow to understand what their covenant vows really meant. After the “I dos”, the rice is thrown and the tuxedos are returned; there is excitement for the honeymoon, the giving of ourselves to one another, fully and completely.
Our lives are no longer our own. We belong to each other.
It’s the same in our relationship to the Lord. There is a starting place, a time when we have said, I do. When we invite Him into our lives, we enter into an eternal, covenantal relationship with Him. At the outset, we have no idea what that means, what life with Christ entails.
Just as in a marriage; we are called to live out daily our consecration to Him. It involves daily sacrifice as we submit to Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom. One unselfish kindness at a time; laying aside the me for Him.
As Jesus laid down His life for us; we must choose to make our lives a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him.
Prayer in Motion:
Oh God, how I love you! I long to live my life; all for Your praise, honor, glory and blessing. Forgive me for the times I’ve been so selfish, wanting things my way. Make my life a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen
