Romans 12:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.“

Important Definitions:

Present: Give someone (a gift or award) in a formal or ceremonial way. Show or offer (something) for others to scrutinize or consider.

Living: Alive. The pursuit of a lifestyle of the specified type.

Sacrifice: An animal, person, or object offered in a sacrifice. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.

Holy: Dedicated or consecrated to God.

I have learned that there should be a difference between who you were when you first met God, (that point where you began to have a relationship with him), and who you are as you gain experience through walking with him.

The difference occurs as we mature in our knowledge of him, by practically applying the lessons we learned to our daily lives. This is also called wisdom. Maturing in Christ.

The last topic was entitled It’s Time to Grow Up. Today’s we are talking about spiritual maturity. The reason being is it is time for us to move beyond milk as babes, to strong meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). It is time to mature so we can make room to receive new believers surely coming. Additionally, there is a work to be done, and we must be strong enough to accomplish it, to see it through to the end.

We are to present our selves to God. A gift given to him to use so that his will can be done.

God is looking for us to live a life that is daily offered to him. A life that we daily seek to please him and do his will. See definitions above. We are to daily pursue after God – seeking to live a life that pleases him.

Our life should be a sacrifice to God. Offering ourselves to him to honor him. We are to freely give up things (the cares of this life), because the reward of God has a greater and has everlasting value. This life should be holy – dedicated to God. Doing so is acceptable to God. More importantly, it is considered our reasonable service.

It is reasonable because of all God has sacrificed for us. He paid a ransom for us – something we can never repay. And he did this while we were all still deep in sin. We were so blinded by our sin that we could not even understand we needed to be delivered and set free.

So I challenge you to take a good look at your life. Ask yourself is your life a living sacrifice? Is your life holy? Is it acceptable to God?

If you can answer yes, then you are doing well. Keep fighting the good fight of faith.

If your answer is no, or you are unsure, then it is time to repent – ask God for forgiveness. Then re-dedicate your life to him. Make conscious choices each day to spend time with God. Personal devotion time (prayer, praise, and worship), study the word of God and seek to apply that word to your life. Then find your place in him – exercise the gifts and calling that God has invested in you. Do the work.

Live that sacrificed life. Blessings and your reward await you.