This month I'd like to consider the topic of living sacrifices. To begin our study let's go to the book of Romans, chapter 12.
Romans 12:1 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.
Here we see the beloved apostle Paul beseeching the believers. The Greek word rendered beseech here is parakaleo {par-ak-al-eh'-o}.Parakaleo means to call to one's side, call for exhortation, entreaty, comfort, or instruction. The word, exhortation, means something said or written in order to urge or persuade somebody strongly to do something. The word, mercies in verse 1 is the word, compassion.
Based on all the Lord has done for us, Paul exhorts us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. The word, present, here is the same word rendered, yield, in Romans 6.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Sometimes in order to present yourself as a living sacrifice you may need to yield from things in your previous lifestyles.
What is a living sacrifice? Well, you know what the word living means. A sacrifice is giving up something valued: a giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance; an offering you give to honor God.
We are to present our bodies. The word, bodies, is the figure of speech, synecdoche, to refer to the whole person, in other words, "yourself ". We are to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices which is our reasonable or logical service.
This has to do with our walk, our service that we freely choose to offer back to God. When believers begin to realize what the Lord has done for them in Christ, the only logical response they could possibly have would be to present themselves as living sacrifices to their heavenly Father.
In the Old Testament under the Law of Moses, the service of God required the sacrifice of dead animals. As sons of God, our divine service is to present ourselves as living sacrifices.
Romans 12:1 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. A holy, acceptable or well pleasing sacrifice to God. The Greek word rendered, holy, is hagios. Here the Greek adjective, hagios, is used to describe someone who is separated or set apart from that which is common.
Our lifestyle is to reflect someone who has been set apart from that which is common. When was the last time you thought of presenting yourself as a living, holy, well pleasing sacrifice to God? That would entail some godly thinking and some deliberate choices on your part.
This takes us out of the spectator realm and puts us on the field of life. One reason people love religion so much is because it relieves them of the responsibility to think for themselves. They don't need to read the bible, let alone study it. All they need to do is follow the leader of their group and do as he instructs to fulfill their oblations to God.
He does most of the thinking, the reading, the studying and the praying for them. All they need to do is robotically show up and put their quarter in at the end of the service.
Isaiah 1:2-3 2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
The shelter for an ox is a manger, the shelter for a donkey is a crib, and the shelter for a sheep is a sheepfold. How do the animals get to the fields in the morning to graze?
In the bible lands, a boy or several boys would gather the animals in the morning and take them to the edge of town into the fields and let them graze all day. When it was time to go home he would take them back to the edge of town and from there they would find their way home without further help. In other words, these animals were smart enough to go back home where they had a warm bed and the safety of their owners' houses waiting.
This is what God is referring to. He said, "my people do not know, my people do not consider." God was saying that the animals had more sense then his people. This is what religion does to people. They have no personal relationship or involvement with their Father. How do you feel as a parent when your child snubs you, or ignores your loving advice? How would you feel if they didn't talk to your for weeks or months at a time? Or how would you feel if they only acknowledged you when they wanted something?
Religion today is raising up a group of comatose people who believe that as long as they do what they are told, God is pleased with them.
Now... How does one go about presenting himself to the lord as a holy, well pleasing living sacrifice?
This makes it interactive. Now you finally get a chance to express to your Father how thankful you are for all He has done.
We must be careful not to do this out of legalism or to gain God's approval and acceptance, or because you want something.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
God has already blessed us with all things in Christ. We need not work for them. We do this because we want to let the Father know how much we love and appreciate all He has done for us in Christ. It's one of your spiritual ways to hug God and bless him, so to speak. It's making Him a picture and signing it. "Love, your child". It's a way to express your thanksgiving and gratitude to him.
So how do you go about offering yourself to God in service as a living sacrifice? You find what pleases Him and then you begin to apply it to your life.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
You're not offering yourself as a living sacrifice to become someone or something, or because you want something.
You joyfully and eagerly offer yourself as a living sacrifice unto the Lord because you know who you already are.
Want to offer a living sacrifice to God? Walk in love.
Philippians 4:17-18 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
When you abundantly share of your finances, God calls it a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing.
Hebrews 13:15-16 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Do you want to offer a living sacrifice holy and well pleasing to God? Praise him! And by the fruit of your lips giving thanks to his name.
1 Corinthians 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
One of the greatest ways I know to give thanks well is to speak in tongues. Jesus Christ offered his life as a sacrifice by dying for the sins of other people. We in turn are to offer ourselves in service as living sacrifices, holy and well pleasing unto God our Father.ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NLT indicates the New Living Translation, NAS indicates the New American Standard version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, NJB means the New Jerusalem Bible, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.
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