A Living Sacrifice
Rom.12:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” NLT
This chapter demands our attention. The Apostle Paul urges the saints in Rome to stop living for themselves and to live for God instead. The way to live for God begins with dying to ourselves. Now that’s an exciting idea isn’t it? It is not new, however. Jesus taught the disciples to deny themselves and to “pick up the cross and follow him” (Mt.16:24-25). The cross was the most severe implement of death in that day. This life principle of denying yourself is found repeatedly in the scriptures. The reality is that we cannot serve God and serve ourselves at the same time. Jesus was and still is looking for devoted and surrendered followers.
Mt. 22:37 reads, “Love the Lord with all your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. God meant what He said! He did not suggest it, He commanded it. He did not say, love me with forty-nine percent of your heart. He said, “Love God with ALL of your heart.”
When you read the Book of Romans, consider the fact that it was a letter written to all the believers in Rome. There were no chapters noted because it was a letter. To grasp the context of chapter twelve you have to read it in light of what was written before and after it. This is a basic principle in understanding scripture.
Paul is writing to both the Jew and Gentile. Reminding them of how majestic their God is and the great things He has done on their behalf. The reality is that man’s sacrifices do not compare with the sacrifice that God made on man’s behalf.
All that was accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ provides life to mankind. The gift of eternal life is displayed through humble and surrendered hearts. This is the evidence of transformation. Life transformation begins with change in the way we think. Change in thinking of ourselves first to thinking of others first. This change of thinking is what activates real love. The way God loved us. God’s love is not self- seeking. God’s love moves towards us with our best interest in mind.
This humble and transformed life also demands honesty. Honesty in self-evaluation.
Paul is urging the Romans to evaluate who we are and what we do honestly and accurately. Stop comparing ourselves with others. It is God alone who declares who and what we are.
Rom.12:2 -3 “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
If the follower of Jesus is going to be transformed, that transformation begins on the inside. It is the sacrificing of our thoughts as first priority. It is the turning away from our “stinking thinking”, our carnal thoughts. It is the crucifying and putting away those thoughts so we can live a surrendered life for Him.
Living a life sacrificed is absolutely possible. It cannot be done in our own reasoning and efforts. It is only accomplished through God’s love and power
Consider all that God has done for you. In light of that, we owe our life as a sacrifice. It is how we worship. We don’t have to sacrifice our life, we get to. In a surrendered life, real life is found. Eternal life!
Rom.11:33 -36 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgment, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and through him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
You are loved!
This chapter demands our attention. The Apostle Paul urges the saints in Rome to stop living for themselves and to live for God instead. The way to live for God begins with dying to ourselves. Now that’s an exciting idea isn’t it? It is not new, however. Jesus taught the disciples to deny themselves and to “pick up the cross and follow him” (Mt.16:24-25). The cross was the most severe implement of death in that day. This life principle of denying yourself is found repeatedly in the scriptures. The reality is that we cannot serve God and serve ourselves at the same time. Jesus was and still is looking for devoted and surrendered followers.
Mt. 22:37 reads, “Love the Lord with all your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. God meant what He said! He did not suggest it, He commanded it. He did not say, love me with forty-nine percent of your heart. He said, “Love God with ALL of your heart.”
When you read the Book of Romans, consider the fact that it was a letter written to all the believers in Rome. There were no chapters noted because it was a letter. To grasp the context of chapter twelve you have to read it in light of what was written before and after it. This is a basic principle in understanding scripture.
Paul is writing to both the Jew and Gentile. Reminding them of how majestic their God is and the great things He has done on their behalf. The reality is that man’s sacrifices do not compare with the sacrifice that God made on man’s behalf.
All that was accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ provides life to mankind. The gift of eternal life is displayed through humble and surrendered hearts. This is the evidence of transformation. Life transformation begins with change in the way we think. Change in thinking of ourselves first to thinking of others first. This change of thinking is what activates real love. The way God loved us. God’s love is not self- seeking. God’s love moves towards us with our best interest in mind.
This humble and transformed life also demands honesty. Honesty in self-evaluation.
Paul is urging the Romans to evaluate who we are and what we do honestly and accurately. Stop comparing ourselves with others. It is God alone who declares who and what we are.
Rom.12:2 -3 “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
If the follower of Jesus is going to be transformed, that transformation begins on the inside. It is the sacrificing of our thoughts as first priority. It is the turning away from our “stinking thinking”, our carnal thoughts. It is the crucifying and putting away those thoughts so we can live a surrendered life for Him.
Living a life sacrificed is absolutely possible. It cannot be done in our own reasoning and efforts. It is only accomplished through God’s love and power
Consider all that God has done for you. In light of that, we owe our life as a sacrifice. It is how we worship. We don’t have to sacrifice our life, we get to. In a surrendered life, real life is found. Eternal life!
Rom.11:33 -36 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgment, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and through him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
You are loved!
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