Bible Verse of the Day Monday April 1st, 2024

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

God is looking for a living sacrifice, not a once-a-month sacrifice, but one that lives day by day to know God, love God, and honor God. One of the most significant calls upon our life is to be a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God. He is not looking for a sacrifice sometimes; he is not looking for those who say they will do it and then don't do it; he is looking for those who desire to be a living sacrifice, a daily sacrifice, a sacrifice that we give out of love and devotion. He is looking for those who love Him so much and are devoted to Him as a living sacrifice. That's the kind of sacrifice that pleases God.

We talk about Abraham and His commitment to offer his son, Issac, as a sacrifice. But what many forget is that Issac was old enough to say no. He was not a little boy. Issac allowed his father to lay him on the altar out of obedience. He had to surrender his will to God's will, even though he did not understand it. As young Issac lay on the altar, he became a picture of a sacrifice. However, when God sent a ram to sacrifice in his place, and Issac got up from the altar, He became a living sacrifice.

Christ Jesus is the perfect picture of a living sacrifice. He died as God's sacrifice for our sins, in obedience to His Father's will, but now He reigns in heaven as a "living sacrifice." That means we become a living sacrifice when you and I believe in Him. When the world sees us, they should see a picture of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. That's what a living sacrifice is; it is so important and pleasing to God!

A living sacrifice is to sacrifice our desires to live fully for God's kingdom and glory. To be a living sacrifice is to dedicate our hands to godly service. It is to dedicate our feet to spreading the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is to dedicate our eyes to see as God sees and our ears to hear as God hears. It is to dedicate our mouths to speaking of His love, grace, and mercy. It is to dedicate our minds to understanding His truth and to fill our minds with the knowledge of His eternal word. To be a living sacrifice is to dedicate our whole selves, heart, mind, body, soul and spirit to God in every way that glorifies Him.

There is a cost to being a living sacrifice; it requires that we take up the cross and follow Jesus. Notice that God does not place the cross upon us. We must choose to take up the cross and follow Jesus daily, voluntarily, and there is always a cost to following Jesus as a living sacrifice.

In the first century, the Romans killed Christians by the thousands for their faith in Jesus. They were sawed in half, burned at the stake, and thrown to the lions, but they willingly gave their lives as a living sacrifice for the glory of God. When given a choice between Cesar and Jesus, they chose Jesus. Their love and commitment to Jesus was more significant than their desire to live. They would rather die than deny Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Anytime we follow Christ Jesus, there will be a sacrifice. Because of our love for Christ, we could lose our homes, and our loved ones turn against us. However, no matter how big or small the sacrifice, no matter how much the cost. God promises our sacrifice for His glory will be rewarded with great rewards beyond earthly measure. Are we pursuing earthly treasures or heavenly treasures? God desires for all His children to surrender and sacrifice our earthly treasures for His eternal treasures that will endure forever. To be a living sacrifice, we must follow God's Word. No matter how great a sacrifice is or how far-reaching it may be, it is worthless without obedience to God.