Are We Living Sacrifices?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1
What does it mean that we offer our bodies as living sacrifices while Galatians 5:1 tells us that we are set free by Christ? Evidently when we offer ourselves as God’s servants, the blessings we receive enable us to overcome the world and to be free in Christ.
Being a living sacrifice for the Lord is a blessing because the Lord molds us to be the person he created us to be. Most people in the world live by Satan’s lies, but when we surrender to the Lord he changes us to live by the truth. We will actually see the person God created us to be.
When we sacrifice our lives to the Lord, we give the Lord priority in our lives. He renews our minds and changes our hearts to model Jesus and serving the Lord becomes the driving force in our lives. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11). When we surrender to the Holy Spirit he will guide us into ministry reflecting God’s love to others. This changes our hearts and motivates us to reach out to lost souls. This increases the fire in our souls, freeing us from ourselves and bringing us closer to God. We find that our souls are filled with more love, peace, joy, confidence, and contentment.
This is a continuous, ongoing process that gives us a better life until we draw our last breath and we enter the perfection of eternal life. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). There is freedom and blessing when we sacrifice our sinful nature and live for Christ. When we trust the Lord he provides for our needs. He provides for our spiritual needs and growth, protects our souls from the evil one, and provides for our physical needs. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33).
Giving our bodies as living sacrifices and becoming the Lord’s servants frees us from the world. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4). Through faith in the Lord we overcome the world, meaning we are not controlled by the world but by the Spirit, giving us freedom in Christ. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). The Lord’s servants live by faith and we are free in Christ because we are no longer in bondage to the world.
Today, live as the Lord’s servants, sacrificing yourself for His service. It pleases the Lord when you put him first in your life, and the result is spiritual and physical blessings. Depend on the Lord and call on Him for guidance throughout the day because he is eager and willing to guide you through the Spirit to do his will.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to sacrifice my body and soul and live for your good, pleasing and perfect will. Guide me to always give you priority in my life and to overcome Satan’s temptations to become my own god. In Jesus’ name, Amen