Romans 12 challenges us to live for Christ. We must present our bodies as living sacrifices, no longer live for the world, remember that we are part of the body of believers, we have specific responsibilities as a believer, and ultimately how we treat unbelievers.
The Christian’s Body a Living Sacrifice (12:1-2)
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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We live in a fallen world. We are conformed to the thinking of this world. If we do not change, we will do all the wicked things of this world.
How do we renew our minds? By reading, applying, and obeying, God’s word, the Bible, to our lives. The Bible is God’s instruction manual on how to live in this wicked world. It gives God’s truth. It contradicts the wisdom of this world and gives us God’s wisdom.
This challenges us to think about our lives. Are we living as “living sacrifices”? The Old Testament sacrifices were dead before they were offered. The blood was sprinkled on the altar and once a year in the Holy of Holies.
We have the opportunity to make a positive difference for God. As living sacrifices, we have the ability to invoke life into others. Through a gospel witness, encouragement, exhortation, or just a positive attitude. The unsaved world and the church are watching what kind of sacrifice we are.
What kind will we be?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
Leave a Reply