A Living Sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

God is not being unreasonable when he asks us to lay our lives down, and there is great value in doing so. You and I become a “living sacrifice” when we are willing to die to ourselves and allow Christ to live out His life in our mortal bodies. What an honor -- to gladly give our Lord everything we have and everything we are! The laid-down life is the only life the Lord can raise up. He fills empty vessels, not full ones. He lifts up the humble and resists the proud.  

Truly, Jesus is our Example in all good things, and He is the ultimate living sacrifice. When we've walked with the Lord for some time, we learn we must never consider what it costs us to obey God. We consider what it cost Him, and it cost Him everything -- the life of His Son. Jesus laid down His life and picked it up again in righteousness and resurrection power. If we will lay our lives down, He will lift us up and fill us with that same righteousness and power. Remember, we must die to ourselves in order to truly live -- so, present yourself to Him today. It is the only reasonable thing to do.

Let’s pray – Lord, we surrender our all today. Set us free from the bondage of selfishness, so we can truly be children of God. You gave everything for us, and we are most like our Savior when we give all for You. Amen.