Paul encourages the Romans to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (HCSB Romans 12:1). The sacrifices to the Lord originated in the Old Testament with the first being the offering presented by Cain and Able in Genesis. The OT laws defined specific requirements for sacrifices, times to present the sacrifice and specifics of how the sacrifice was to be prepared and presented.
Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for forgiveness of sins and ended the need to offer animal sacrifices before God. However the ending of the animal sacrifice did not totally end the need for offering sacrifice. Paul describes how each believer is to offer the ultimate sacrifice. Believers are to offer themselves to the Lord as a “living sacrifice”. A sacrifice was considered a victim whose life ended when they were offered as a sacrifice. Over the years many believers have offered Romans 12:2 as a request that God would transform them and maybe reveal His vision to them. Seldom or probably never have I heard a believer stating they were offering themselves as a “living sacrifice” giving up their life to live for God.
Most people, believers, non believers, marginal Christians and the like place emphasis on blessings and thankfulness during the weeks from the celebration of Thanksgiving in late November to the western Christmas celebration of Jesus birth on December 25. (Not all Christians in the world celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25.) Try not to get too hung up or upset over the December 25th comment. This post is not to detract from our need to be thankful for all of our blessings. Blessings and being thankful for them is not the emphasis, focus and purpose behind our faith in God.
Jesus called his Apostles and Disciples to a life of serving, sharing and living committed to Him. Paul supports this with the passage written in Romans 12. Calling on believers to offer themselves as a living sacrifice before God. He goes on to state that offering and serving become the believers act of worship. Worship is not something to be consumed, believing is not about the abundance of blessing we receive while living on earth.
As we are 8 days into 2016 most “New Years Resolutions” have either already been broken or maybe time has not allowed you to begin the resolute activity by now. Ditch the resolution and begin to follow the words of Paul. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” study each phrase and word in this passage and all of Romans 12. Commit to daily renewal of your mind to seek God’s vision and perfect will for your life each day. Sacrifice your goals and desires to focus on goals that will result in kingdom growth and kingdom building in 2016, the Kingdom of Christ not your own personal domain.