Wanted: Living Sacrifices

Do we really know what it means to sacrifice? We are a people of many wants and what we want, we want now and without pain or discomfort. We demand people cater to our every need and set expectations so high - for others and ourselves - that there's no way they can be met. We find ourselves living life according to the world's standards - in thought, feeling and action and change is something we avoid at all costs.

Paul writes the letter of Romans to the church in Rome. He has never met these new believers, so he sets out to introduce himself and make his case for salvation, faith and righteous living. Part of his instruction for righteous, God-pleasing living comes in Romans 12:1b-2 - " ...offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God...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."

Each time we offer our bodies as "living sacrifices" to God, our stubborn nature will rebel. There is a struggle of wills and control. Like the living sacrifices God required in the Old Testament, He wants us to come to Him alive, able to be used by Him; not dead, lifeless and a captive of the world.

But, like everything else, we have an option - be conformed or be transformed. Are you willing to let the world squeeze you into its mold; following along like sheep being led to the slaughter? It's so easy to fall into the pattern of the world - we are bombarded daily with its influence. But God gives us a way out....

Transformation. This kind of change happens from the inside out. It begins with a re-programming of our mind - which we know controls all our thoughts, feelings and actions. God knows we struggle with worldly living, that's why He encourages us to daily renewal. This means bringing our lives to Him as a sacrifice, laying it all on the altar and asking Him for a new mind - a new way of thinking, feeling and acting - each and every day!

What's our reward? We will know what God's, not the world's, good, pleasing and perfect will is. We can do what we need to do to be transformed knowing it's what God wants for us; it's His best for us. God's desire for us is not found in the world, so stop searching for it there! All the world can give us is pain, sorrow, misery, stress, disappointment, separation from God, etc. Again, it's your choice - conform or be transformed?

BLOG COMMENT: What do you need to sacrifice today? Is it an attitude? A fear or worry? A situation you're trying to control? A person who's pressuring you to conform?