Perhaps the greatest act of love is sacrificing your life for another. As
born again ones we certainly recognize the awesome love our Heavenly Father
imparted to us by giving His son – The lord Jesus Christ – to die for us
and all mankind.
Romans 5:8:
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
This monumental act of love afforded to us the awesome privilege of the new
birth. All we had to do was believe in the lord Jesus Christ and that God
raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). As a result of believing this, our
life completely changed from alienation from God, eternal death, and having no
hope to eternal life and the hope of Christ’s return.
Colossians 1:21 and 22:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreproveable in his sight:
What is our response to such a magnificent plan of love by God for our
benefit?
Romans 6:11 and 13b:
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive
unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
…but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
God’s great charge to all believers in light of His abounding love that
made us his children is:
Romans 12:1 and 2:
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.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God.
This is quite a challenging exhortation in the times we live today. As we
consider this life-changing calling by our Heavenly Father, what about the
details of my life that are significant now? What about my spouse and family
if I am married? Or what about my job, my hobbies, the issues of global
warming, terrorist threats, wars in the Middle East, bird flu, rush hour
traffic, the Padres winning, my drinking friends, my reality shows, my
favorite band? What about what God’s Word says?!
Well, our challenge is to literally put God and His Word first and be those
living sacrifices acceptable to God. All the other concerns in life then can
be handled with a Godly perspective.
Hebrew 9:14:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God?
I Peter 2:5 and 9:
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Being a sacrifice does not include being beat up, enduring pain, and dying.
We are to be LIVING SACRIFICES. What is being a living sacrifice? The previous
verse in I Peter 2:9b is a start: “…ye should shew forth the praises of
Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Instead of complaining about the world, do the Word and show forth praises
unto our Heavenly Father. The following will also help us be those living
sacrifices:
Psalms 27:6:
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing,
yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Ephesians 5:2:
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Galatians 5:13:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Romans 15:1 and 2; 5 and 6:
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not
to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his
good to edification.
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Becoming a living sacrifice results in a life of joy and praise. It is
having a clear understanding of who we are in Christ and knowing what our
function is in the One Body of Christ and then walking in love.
Hebrews 13:15 and 16:
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.
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God
is well pleased.
Perhaps the greatest joy we have as living sacrifices is stated in
Philippians.
Philippians 2:16-18:
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I
joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Let’s do our best to do the Word instead of doing our best to do the
world. By our free will decision let’s bring into subjection our minds and
hearts and be the best living sacrifices we can be. Let’s strive to manifest
the joy and rejoicing life-style as living sacrifices.
- Bob Lindfelt
