A Living And Holy Sacrifice

TEXT: Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

SACRIFICE - DEFINITION

A sacrifice is "an offering made to God by killing and burning some animal upon an altar, as an acknowledgment of his power and providence or to make atonement for sin, appease his wrath or conciliate his favor or to express thankfulness for his benefits. Sacrifices have been common to most nations, and have been offered to false gods, as well as by the Israelites to Jehovah.." (King James Bible dictionary).

JESUS - THE ONLY SACRIFICE FOR SIN

God does not require burnt offerings from man anymore because Jesus has offered himself once and for all time as a sacrifice for the sin of man. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb 10:12). Killing and offering animals and human beings as offering for sin is not acceptable to God. He has no pleasure in such offerings as they cannot remove the stain of sin. "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure" (Heb 10:6). The blood of bulls and rams cannot wash away sin (Heb 10:4). Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse from sin. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins (1 John 1:7).

WHAT TYPE OF SACRIFICE DOES GOD REQUIRE FROM HIS CHILDREN?

The type of sacrifice that is acceptable to God is a living and holy sacrifice. This entails killing or mortifying the deeds of the flesh on a daily basis and presenting your body as a holy offering to God. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5).

A SPIRITUAL SACRIFICE

"And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God (1 Pet 2:5 NLT). The spiritual sacrifices that pleases God include: the sacrifices of the fruit of our lips; offering praise and thanksgiving to God daily: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Heb 13:15). The Lord also expects his children to show love to him and our fellow human beings by doing good. "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Heb 13:16). The Bible says we should follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man can see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

All these can be done with the help of the Holy spirit and meditating continually on the word of God which is able to renew the mind. God desires to fellowship with those who will worship him in spirit and truth and this requires taking the cross daily and following Jesus. It is not easy to deny oneself but that is the sacrifice that God requires. The Holy Spirit of God in the heart of man is much more valuable than silver and gold, than all the pleasures the world can give. The word of life is a light to those who seek to please God; read, study, meditate and speak the word of God to others. Faith comes by reading and hearing the word of God and without faith we cannot please God.

"Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies" (Heb 10:26-27). Don't be an enemy of God, repent and accept Jesus as your saviour today. Offer yourself to God as a living and holy sacrifice.

PRAYER:

Father, I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice; help me to mortify the deeds of the flesh and carry my cross with the help of the Holy Spirit day by day in Jesus name.

DECREE: The grace of God is sufficient for me.

God bless you. Shalom.