Sacrifice by Grace B. of Uganda
SACRIFICE
ROMANS 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers in the view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
A Sacrifice is defined as anything consecrated and offered to God, in the Old Testament a sacrifice was killed and then offered to God. We can no longer offer to God animals as our sacrifice because Jesus Christ is our ultimate sacrifice. Ephesians 5; 2… and has given Himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God.1corinthians 5:7.
How can we offer our bodies as living sacrifice pleasing to God? The above scripture gives us three ways to do so.
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. The passion bible says (stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you) the culture of the world and that of God are incompatible. The world offers gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world and obsession with status and importance none of these things comes from the Father. 1 John 2:15-16.
- Be transformed by the renewal of the mind. The passion bible says( but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think) it’s an inward out working that does not happen in a day but daily, our minds tend to draft off in different thoughts and desires that why we must be disciplined and intentional in renewing it .2 Corinthians 10:4-6.we renew our mind by the word of God Colossians 3;10, Ephesians 4:23.
- Being able to discern the will of God. The passion bible says (this will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes) when we become intentional by the grace of God to live these three steps in our lives than can we be the living sacrifice God desires.
Four Sacrifices that pleases God sacrifice of our lips. Hebrews 13:15by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. – sacrifice of our bodies. 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. -sacrifice of your giving. Hebrews13:16 but to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifice God is well pleased. -sacrifice of your love. Leadership is costly it requires a lot of sacrifice which must be out of sincere, loving service. Romans 12:8-20.
Prayer – Father God teach us to present not just our bodies as living sacrifice but our lives, time, resources, talents in ways that pleases you in Jesus name.