A Living Sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (KJV)

Paul is saying that by God’s mercies we are to present ourselves, our bodies, as a living sacrifice- just as Jesus laid His life down for us. Jesus died that we might live, and now we are to do the same for others. While we may not physically die for someone else, our wills are to be sacrificed to live for God and help others. This is acceptable and reasonable.

God never asks us to do unreasonable things. However, He will ask us to do difficult things- with His help of course. Giving our lives daily for His purposes is our reasonable act of worship, no matter what it might be. He might ask us to load the dishwasher with a smile or He might ask us to sing in the church choir. Both are reasonable acts of worship if done unto Him.

Some ways we can give ourselves to God:

• Prayer

• Fasting

• Giving

• Helping Others

• Worshiping

• Witnessing

• Whatever God Tells Us To Do

In the Old Testament, the animal sacrifice died on the altar. Now, we offer God a living sacrifice, living to give our all to God and then to others. A life lived for God truly is the highest form of worship. Just as the Old Testament sacrifice was to be holy and blameless, our living sacrifice is to be holy and blameless as well. How can we do this? We can do this because Jesus already offered Himself as the perfect Lamb of God, making us holy and blameless in the sight of God.

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour. Leviticus 3:16 (KJV)

Jesus first offered Himself, giving us an example to follow. As we keep our flesh under by saying no to sin and yes to God, our living sacrifice is pleasing to Him. When we offer up everything we do as a sacrifice to God, we are worshiping Him,and it is a sweet smelling aroma to Him. When we offer ourselves to God, we don’t lose anything and everyone gains. That is truly acceptable to Him.