A Living Sacrifice

May 9 2007

A Living Sacrifice - Verse of the Day : I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
-Romans 12:1-2

Daily Bible Reading Plan

Morning : Romans 12

Evening : 1 Kings 1-2

The Bible says that we are all called the moment we are saved (2 Tim. 1:9). So what is your calling in life? How do you discover your calling?

The answer is found in Romans 12:1. The chapter begins with the word "therefore." That means that the apostle Paul starts off by urging the believers in Rome: "Now based on all that you have known from chapters 1-11, of what God has done for you through Jesus Christ, it is time for you to get serious with the Lord. Start living the kind of life you should be living. Start becoming the person you're supposed to be!"

The first thing you need to do is to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (12:1).

What does God want? More than your love and worship, He wants your body. God wants you to put your body on His altar as a living sacrifice. That means that while you are still breathing and kicking, place your body at His disposal. Let Him live His life through you.

May 9 - A Living Sacrifice - Christian Daily Devotions

anything that is placed on the altar of God becomes holy (Matt. 23:19). The moment you give Him your body, it becomes holy unto the Lord--"acceptable to God."

You will realize that the moment you hand over your body as a vessel for His use, your mind gets renewed (Rom. 12:2). You start thinking in a different way. The calling of God becomes clearer and clearer. You will begin "to prove"--which means "to experience" in the Greek--the calling of God in your life.

You will learn that His calling for you is "good" (12:2)--God never plans anything bad for His children. It is "acceptable"--the more you experience it, the more you will like it and accept it. Ultimately, it is "perfect"--it will satisfy every longing and meet every need you have.

God is a realist. He doesn't expect you to just "talk the talk," He wants you to "walk the walk!" Let Him have free reign over your body. Be His hands, His feet, His eyes and His mouthpiece to the dying world. The moment you do that, His calling for you will become most obvious. Put yourself as a living sacrifice on God's altar!

May 9 - A Living Sacrifice - Christian Daily Devotions