A Whole Life
by David Brenneman
A Living Sacrifice
"Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: this is your spiritual service of worship" Romans 12:1.
God takes great pleasure in worthy sacrifices. In the Old Testament God gave detailed instructions for how His people were to give their offerings. He declared that these brought a "pleasing aroma" to Him (Leviticus 1:13, 17). When the Israelites gave an offering to God, it was no longer their own; it belonged entirely to God. God would accept only the best that people could give. It was an affront to Almighty God to offer Him animals that were damaged or imperfect in any way. God Himself met the standard for sacrifices when He offered His own Son as the spotIess Lamb. Only the death of His perfect Son worthy enough offering to atone for the sins of mankind.
Now, God asks us to lay down our lives on His altar as a living sacrifice. Just as it was in the Old Testament, our sacrifice once offered, cannot be reclaimed. We belong entirely to Him. We cannot make a partial sacrifice of our lives; our offering must be wholehearted.
Therefore if you are a Christian, your life is not your own. Rather than dying, however, God asks you to live for Him as a living sacrifice. Every day, you are to offer your life to Him for His service. You do not serve Him in your spare time or with your leftover resources. The way you live your life for God is your offering to Him. Relentlessly pursue holiness so that your offering to God is unblemished and acceptable to Him (Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). Experiencing God Day-by-Day
How much of your life is really a sacrifice unto God? Have You ever thought about that?
How much of it HAVE you offered each day to God? Is it your ALL that's on the altar?
Before you jump to answer with a 'yes' to that...think about it. How often are your thoughts on things they shouldn't be? How often are your actions not what they ought to be? How often have you had it within your means to help another Believer and withheld your hand instead? How often have you taken time for things of this world that do absolutely nothing for your growing in Christ and put that ahead of time you could have spent with Jesus? How's that prayer life going? How's that time in your Bible going?
It's not as wholely on the altar as you first thought is it? Hey I'm looking in the mirror as well on this one. Is Jesus getting our everything or just what's convenient at the time? Are we loving others as He loves us? Are we intentional about our lives in service to the One who gave everything for us?
A time to reflect right now probably would be a good thing.
A time to think about how you've let so much of the world into your life and never gave it a second thought. Probably, much as I can say something similar, that those who came before me said, taught, or implied that those things are ok. That God will 'understand'.
Jesus said if we are to follow Him we are to take up our own cross and follow Him.
It doesn't take much to look at pictures of the types of crosses that Jesus is talking about.
I know I cannot carry anything else if THAT is what I'm to be carrying.
My Dear Reader...the Spirit is to teach us all things in how to live for Jesus. It's on us to soak that up, take it all in, and live it out. What are you doing to be intentional about loving others? What has taken up your time that ought to be given to Jesus for your study of His ways and to live as He wants of you?
It may mean giving up your hobbies. Giving up your recreational whatever. For some it may mean giving up streaming/gaming/television/sports or a host of things. In all reality is ANYTHING we have made a part of our lives...really as valuable as Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for our sins?
It's not to say we cannot enjoy aspects of this world. We just should never ever put them ahead of our life in Christ. They shouldn't be described as things we 'love'. "Love not the world nor the things of the world" is what the Scriptures say. The things we hold so dear to are destined to be given over to moth and rust and will be destroyed.
Take time to take stock of what's in your hands. Is it your cross or a bunch of other things?
Our lives are to be lived as a sacrifice...so is Jesus getting a whole sacrifice from us or not?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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