Today’s Reading: Romans 12:1-4
Today’s Verse: 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
To sacrifice means we are giving up something of value.
In life, there will come a time when we must change our manner of living.
We have to give up some things. But it will be for our good.
Sacrifice also has a spiritual meaning.
It means giving to the Lord. We are to give Him whatever He requires.
It could be of our time. It could be of our earthly possessions. It could be of our energy. Whatever He needs to further His work.
In the Old Testament, they made living sacrifices. They were the ones that involved animal offerings. Ones that were killed on an altar.
Romans 12:1 is our reference for the current sacrifices we make. It is the foundation to our understanding of what it truly means to be a living sacrifice for the Lord today.
As a “living sacrifice,” we are dedicating ourselves, our entire lives to God. Living a life of service and purpose.
Our service will be more than just attending religious ceremonies. We will make a commitment to live a life pleasing to God. We will actively serve Him.
It will be a life that reflects that we acknowledge the sacrifice that Jesus made for our lives. That, we humbly submit our bodies, minds, and spirits to serve Him.
Romans 12:1 is a powerful appeal.
Whole life surrendering unto God. A life where our actions, thoughts and desires match with His will. We respond daily to His mercies and grace.
There is a transformation of our lives.
We will still be living in the world. But not a part of it. We will resist the world’s values and behaviors. We will be following the ways of the Lord. Our prime example for living a good life.
The more we stay in the Word, we will always gain the knowledge we need to live out God’s will.
We want to please God. Always acknowledging His holiness and love.
Let us show gratitude for God’s grace. For His mercy and the sacrifice of Christ.
Let us humbly and faithfully use our spiritual gifts.
Heartfelt devotion and worship. This should be our response to His love.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, we humbly submit ourselves to You. Daily living according to Your Word. Acknowledging the plans You have for our lives. May Your Holy Spirit build our understanding. Helping us to make a change in our lives. We want to reflect the likeness of You. A likeness in knowledge, and righteousness. One of true holiness. We do not desire to walk in the ways of the world. We know that it is a form of happiness that will soon pass away. Like Jesus, we want to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. We want to be holy and acceptable unto You. We put our hope and trust in You. Thank You for receiving us as one of Your own.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen