A Living Sacrifice

What do you think of when you hear the word sacrifice?  Do you think of an animal slain on an alter as an atonement for sins, as in the Old Testament of Holy Scripture?  Maybe you think of a soldier, police officer, or one who died in the line of duty.  Do you think of a sacrifice as a living thing or as a dead thing?

The Bible says in Romans 12:1 KJV, “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.”

When I think of this verse, I think of the dying part, initially, and it sounds painful and scary.  It doesn’t sound very reasonable.  However, there are two key words in this verse to unlocking great blessing and victory in every day life:  present and living.

Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice means dying daily to our own selfish wants and desires, SO THAT, we may be alive unto God and his wants and desires, which is where true peace and joy are found.  Jesus Christ said he came to give us life and to give it more abundantly. (See John 10:10  KJV).  Unlike the thief (the devil), who came to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus Christ bled his sinless blood for you and me, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day to give us eternal life. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, your life is no longer your own.  “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

When we present our bodies to God, our flesh no longer has power over us because it is declared dead-crucified with Christ. The Holy Spirit, then, empowers us to live anew, holy and acceptable unto God.  Wow!  What a blessing!  What victory!  Sin no longer hath dominion over us the moment we present our body a living sacrifice to God.  Hallelujah!

Will you present your body a living sacrifice unto God today?