A Word from Romans 12

When’s the last time that you sacrificed something for God? And what was it that you gave up? Did you give a financial gift that really cost you something? Did you turn over some time that you wanted to use for another purpose? Did you offer up your justifiable right to be angry about the way somebody treated you?

Well, if you think about it…sacrifice is hard! But the real challenge, I think, is that it becomes awfully easy to tell ourselves that we’ve done something good for God; and so now, we can get back to doing what we want to do.

But that’s why it’s so important to wrestle with today’s word from Romans 12 (verses 1-8). “I urge you, brothers and sisters,” Paul says, “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” (12:1; emphasis added).

Now, I’ve heard is said that the problem with a “living sacrifice” is that it keeps crawling away from the altar! And if we understand what Paul is trying to say, then we’ll begin to realize that the sacrifice God wants us to make isn’t a “one and done” kind of thing – but an “all of life” kind of thing. It requires not being conformed to the pattern of this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds (12:2). It involves not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought (12:3). And It calls us to use our gifts in service to each other (12:4-8).

And maybe that’s why I like the take on today’s word that we find in The Message version of Romans 12: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” (12:1, The Message)

So today—in view of God’s mercy—may we live that sacrificial life. And may every our every thought, word, and deed become an offering that gives Him worship. Amen.