Study 21 – Living Sacrifices

Paul says, 'I urge you … in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God' (Rom. 12:1).

This is not a cold command, 'Surrender your bodies!' It is linked with the amazing love of God. Paul is saying, 'In the light of God's incredible mercy towards you, how can you do anything else but offer your body to Him?'

God is looking for people who will not give their bodies to Him out of obligation. Jesus was not compelled to lay down His life for us. He could have commanded thousands of angels to defend Him from a cruel death.

But, seeing the joy that was set before Him, He willingly 'bore our sins in his body on the tree' (1 Pet. 2:24).

Paul tells us, 'You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body' (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The holy life is not automatic. Your will is involved. You have to choose whether you use your body as if it belonged to you or to God.

The Jews at the time of Malachi were offering god imperfect sacrifices. 'Any old thing will do for God,' they thought. Then they withheld the perfect animals for themselves and gave Him the leftovers. God rejected the sacrifices because they were not worthy of Him. 'I am a great king … and my name is to be feared among the nations,' He said (Mal. 1:14).

Only the best is good enough for the Lord.

The Father is no longer looking for dead animals but living sacrifices, not sloppy lives but instruments of glory and praise in the earth.

Are you giving your best to Him? He will test you by your actions. He will watch you to see if you are really honouring Him with your body.

What sort of things are you looking at, listening to, saying and touching? How are you treating your enemies? What is your attitude at work? How are your relationships with other members of your family?

Sanctification is nothing to do with 'handing your life over to God', it is about co-operating with Him as He brings things to light that He wants you to change.

Jesus was the perfect living sacrifice.

When you wholeheartedly offer your body to God, you are saying, 'I want to demonstrate my love to you for all that you have done for me.'

To Meditate On

JESUS WANTS YOU TO EXALT HIM IN YOUR BODY.

'I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body' (Phil. 1:20).

'Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God' (Eph. 5:2).

Food For Thought

READ Matthew 27:11-44. From this passage write down the things that Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, had to endure from the people.

WHAT SORT of things are you willing to endure for Him (e.g. ridicule at work, rejection by your friends)?

Be Inspired

The cross will cut into our lives where it hurts worst, sparing neither us nor our carefully cultivated reputations. It will defeat us and bring our selfish lives to an end. Only then can we rise in fullness of life to establish a pattern of living wholly new and free and full of good works.
A.W. TOZER

To Consider

Write down three 'sloppy sacrifices' (e.g. poor preparation for your housegroup).

To Challenge

ARE YOU offering God the best – or the leftovers?

HAVE YOU made any promises to God which, because of the cost to you, you have failed to keep (e.g. 'Lord, I will tithe my income …' 'Well, things are a bit tight at the moment, maybe I'll give five per cent for a while')?

READ Malachi 1:12-14.

If you have done something like this, repent of your wrong attitudes.

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God"' (Heb. 10:5-7).