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 NIV
What are they “urgent” request made upon people in church today? Usually, it is summed up in requesting more money and time. If you are a leader, listen to what you are “asking” of your members. How much of it centers around helping the church stay relevant and afloat?
Paul’s plea was for them to offer their lives as a living sacrifice. To offer means to present or stand close beside. Paul was making a legal argument for the person to be fully engaged into the matters of God. A soldier is trained to respond instantly when a superior walks into the room so that he is fully attentive to the request of the superior. He has learned to always “be present” for the next instruction.
To offer also suggest that it is a decision of willingness. We have the privilege, the choice to “bring” the sacrifice. In the OT the people would watch the animal be brought to the place where its life was taken. Some probably went “kicking and baaing”. It was a different experience to watch an animal “go willingly”, as if it knew there was a higher purpose for its death. This idea is captured in Jesus death…like a lamb before its shearer is silent.
Paul is challenging us to willingly present our lives for God’s use moment by moment. It is the greatest adventure of your lifetime. What do you have to offer?
Blessings. Love y’all
I remember a song from the 80’s by Bobby Michal I do believe. It was titled “I will not offer Him anything that cost me nothing. The one who made the perfect sacrifice desires our Trust, our Love and our Lives. He is worthy of all of me not just the scraps of attention, that is not a sacrifice. Our undivided attention and our time is a sacrifice worthy to our King.
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