A Living Sacrifice
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
- Romans 12:1
- Romans 12:1
As we kick off the new year, we are going to spend the next week or so looking at what it looks like for us to live out our Christianity. Romans 12-16 gives us such a great picture of what that looks like, and it all begins in Romans 12:1, which says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice? What does that even mean? This is so contrary to the world we live in today. Society wants us to feel empowered to do what we want. Society tells us that this is our body, and we can do what ever we want with it. But that is not what God commands us in Scripture.
See, if you are a believer, your body is not yours; it is God’s, and it belongs to Him.
God wants you to honor Him by making your body a living sacrifice. This means dying to the natural desires of humanity and pursuing His perfect will and purpose for your life. The verse says “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” When we offer our body as a living sacrifice, we are rejecting the earthly desires that so many will encourage us to partake in. Instead, we are staying holy, keeping our bodies pure, so that they are pleasing to God.
If you choose to give your body to Christ as a living sacrifice, I will warn you; you will be ridiculed. This is a very unpopular choice that most people, even believers, fail to do. But there is a reason it is the very first verse of this chapter. The importance of it cannot be overstated. When you give your body as a living sacrifice to God, you are choosing God over yourself. And God will honor that decision. It is something that will pay positive dividends in every area of your life. It might be unpopular in society, but God will bless you for it!
Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice? What does that even mean? This is so contrary to the world we live in today. Society wants us to feel empowered to do what we want. Society tells us that this is our body, and we can do what ever we want with it. But that is not what God commands us in Scripture.
See, if you are a believer, your body is not yours; it is God’s, and it belongs to Him.
God wants you to honor Him by making your body a living sacrifice. This means dying to the natural desires of humanity and pursuing His perfect will and purpose for your life. The verse says “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” When we offer our body as a living sacrifice, we are rejecting the earthly desires that so many will encourage us to partake in. Instead, we are staying holy, keeping our bodies pure, so that they are pleasing to God.
If you choose to give your body to Christ as a living sacrifice, I will warn you; you will be ridiculed. This is a very unpopular choice that most people, even believers, fail to do. But there is a reason it is the very first verse of this chapter. The importance of it cannot be overstated. When you give your body as a living sacrifice to God, you are choosing God over yourself. And God will honor that decision. It is something that will pay positive dividends in every area of your life. It might be unpopular in society, but God will bless you for it!
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2024
January
One Step at a TimeTrusting in the UnseenThe Consequences of SinThe Path of True RepentanceWhen Are You Going to Change?Short-Term Satisfaction vs. Long-Term RewardsWhat Has God Called You to Do?The Danger of Ignoring God's CallingThe Abundance Beyond ObedienceResting in His RhythmLetting God Work While We RestFaith Under ConstructionThe Purpose in WaitingAgainst the GrainNot of This WorldGuidance in ConflictEmbracing Grace in RejectionEternal InvestmentsImpatient Choices, Lasting ConsequencesGod's Timing in RelationshipsDivine Delays in CareersIn Pursuit of God's TimingIn His ImageAnchored in God's VerdictImmersed in His LoveA Heart Full of ThanksPerspective ShiftStrength in UnityWho Needs Your Prayers?Expressing SelflessnessGoing All In on God's Calling
February
Exceedingly, Abundantly BeyondUnraveling the Strength Within WeaknessBeyond Human StrengthUnfailing FaithfulnessIgnoring The SignalsChoosing His Will with Free WillBlessings in Obedience to God's WillWhen God's Plans Are Different Than YoursTrusting the Unseen PathDivine ConnectionsPurposeful Impact in Others' LivesAnswering the Call to Show UpFinding All You Need in GodValor in the Face of FearObedience Over ComfortAnswering God's CallTrusting God One Step at a TimeTrusting the Omniscient GuideThe Path of Blessings through ObedienceThe Consequence of DisobedienceEmbracing the Hope of ChangeEmbracing the Call to SelflessnessTuning In to God's WhispersRising Above FearGod's Unshakeable Faith in YouAwakening to God's Plan for Your LifeThe Journey of FaithSurrendering Struggles
March
The Unseen GuardianBalancing CommunityStarting at HomeFrom Brokenness to MasterpieceEmbracing Your DesignDiscovering Strength in HelplessnessTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe Gift of RepentanceBoundless ForgivenessA Two-Way StreetEmbracing Purpose in PainGod's Call to Impact LivesOrdinary to ExtraordinaryQualifying the CalledFinding Peace in ObedienceTrusting God's Plan Beyond Our DreamsPraising God in the PainFrom Platform to PastureEmbracing God's Training GroundFollowing the Model of JesusThe Beauty of Serving OthersFrom Knowledge to ObedienceGratitude for God's FaithfulnessRemoving the TapeGod Sees YouDisplaying Your FaithChoosing Obedience Over TemptationObedience Despite DifferencesThe Destructive Grip of LustChoosing God's Best Over Temporary PleasuresChoosing Wisely in Relationships
No Comments