WILLING UN-EVERYTHING SACRIFICE
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1, ESV
Theme: God is worthy of our sacrifice, whether time, money, passion, attention, or our whole lives.
UN-EVERYTHING
Do you remember your teenage years? I remember feeling “un-everything” in every situation. You name it and I felt it: unpopular, unlovely, unwise, unlikeable, unworthy. I never felt pretty enough, smart enough, or “cool” enough to fit in. Yet there were some Christian posters and teachings that helped me: “I know I’m somebody, ‘cause God don’t make no junk” was one I remember well! Still, being a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable? That felt impossible.
SACRIFICIAL LAMBS
The animals chosen for the sacrificial offerings were to be totally without defect. They had perfect limbs, no diseases, and no scarring on their hides. None of us could qualify as worthy if these physical and exterior qualifications were still necessary. Although Paul is talking about our physical bodies, he is also talking about our whole selves. He is speaking of living a life that truly honors God.
HOW TO START
Matthew Henry, the great Biblical commentator, notes that Paul has spent all of Romans to this point talking about the mystery of salvation. Now, he gets practical and tells his readers, “This is how God wants us to live!” First, he appeals and, in some versions, beseeches or begs the believers to present or surrender themselves to God. What a huge task! This is not only a one-time decision to put our faith in Christ Jesus, but a daily choice to put aside self, pick up the cross, and follow Him.
Furthermore, once we make that decision to follow Him, our “un-everything” is made perfect by Jesus! “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV). Our job is to surrender and let the blood of Jesus make us worthy of Him.
DAILY WALK
Even though Christ has totally forgiven and restored us when we put our faith in Him, we have some skin in this game. We must turn from sin and choose to present ourselves for inspection, just as the lambs were thoroughly inspected for flaws. God expects us to come boldly, dressed in the righteousness of Jesus. He does not want us cringing, drug into His throne room, forced to lay down ourselves, our sins, and our hearts. We are to be a free will offering, a giving of all that we are and have.
Make It Personal: Do you sometimes feel like God asks too much of you? Maybe He requests more of your time, or for you to give up a “petty” sin? Maybe you feel the opposite: there is no way you will ever be a “holy and acceptable” sacrifice. We are so wrong, no matter which of these sides of the ditch we fall into! Choose to walk the path He has laid out for you. Accept His salvation in faith and let go of the past. Daily take up your cross and follow Him. Put aside the sins that so easily entangle you. Let the gift of your life be an offering, not a penalty. Let it please God, who deserves everything you have to offer Him.
Pray: Lord God, there is none like You. Jesus--the only One to whom every knee will someday bow—you are worthy of my praise. I choose to give myself to You, for Your use, for Your pleasure, and for Your kingdom. Help me to willingly walk the life You have for me and offer myself as a holy and acceptable sacrifice, because You have made me holy and acceptable. I need your Spirit’s power to obey and resist evil. Thank You for Your power within me to surrender and take up my cross daily. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Read: 2 Corinthians 8:5; Luke 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Hebrews 12:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, ESV