A Living Sacrifice !
How can a sacrifice which is offered in the sacrificial altar be living? Romans 12:1 tells that we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice which is considered to be true and proper worship.
Romans 12:2 NIV instructs further “Do not conform 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.” Romans 12:2
We should know who God is, and that we cannot please God with offerings or with our riches or actions like singing and dancing. He is the creator and everything belongs to Him. In Psalms 50 we read : “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” .
He doesn’t need anything from us. He wants us to be grateful to Him for His abundant mercy towards us. He wants us to love Him and trust Him for every need. Psalms 50:9-10 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, Colossians 2:13 Circumcision was symbolic of removing all impurities of the flesh of every Israelite . They were given commandments to be obeyed in flesh, which actually was to keep them flawless. They failed to comprehend the essence of law. On the contrary they added more rites and rituals to the laws which became their tradition. Their sins and impurities were imputed on the animals which were slaughtered in place of humans. They failed to understand the meaning of such sacrifices. Their hearts were far from the Lord who was with them throughout.
In the fullness of time Jesus, the Son of God came as the blemishless lamb and sacrificed Himself in place of every human who believes in His redemptive plan. God’s plan was to redeem man through faith by grace. Circumcision of heart is the prerequisite of this plan. Jesus sacrificed Himself in our place and so we have to believe Him and trust Him for our salvation. Our good actions can’t save us. Once we are born in Christ we have to live in the newness of life.
The old man is crucified with Him. Paul says: “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. Romans 12:1
This means we should not go back to the old ways of sin. We should surrender ourselves to the will of God, to be completely guided by the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly desires are to be removed totally. We are free from rules like:- “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:21-23 .
True worship is leading a holy life according to the instructions given by the Lord. Worship does not promote legalism. Worship comes from a heart which is full of gratitude to the Lord. Not only that, worship should come out of a repentant and contrite heart. Such a heart is the living sacrifice acceptable unto the Lord. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV
Prayer
Thank you Lord for redeeming us from our old worldly ways. Help us to surrender our body as a living sacrifice before You Lord. Help us to lead Godly lives and be away from sin. Give us a contrite and repentant heart whenever the Holy Spirit reminds us of sin.Fill us with love and gratitude for your abundant mercy. Thank you Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Amen
Sol.Salomi Kurian