Sacrifices!

Sacrifices!

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV

The Context and Focus:

Paul writes to the church in Rome, and his letter covers several aspects of the Christian experience. The focus for today's verse is also part of this experience, and as you read the chapters before this one, you see the interesting yet definitive dynamic of the power of sin, and the even greater power of mercy. There is a law that governs sin, and there is also a law that defines and defines mercy and grace. Both laws are in operation on this side of eternity, and both laws have faithful adherents. God has also made quite clear what the end of both laws are. By the operation of the law of sin, eternal death is its end. By the same divine arrangement, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin which brings death. It is critical to again note that you cannot sit on the fence on this one, as you are under the control, influence and direction of one law at any point in time. If you are a child of God, totally surrendered to Him and willing to walk with and work for God, the law of the Spirit of life is at work. If you still listen to the flesh, and allow its lusts to dictate your pursuits and priorities, then you are under the control, influence and direction of the law that lead to death. 

The Message:

Both laws have power to dictate behaviour. This is why no man delivers himself from the power of sin and death. You need a superior power to deliver you; and it is by repentance, remorse and return to God that you can have access to that power. This is the focus of the verse above: there is a power available in Christ for all who are tired of the oppression, repression and depression that the law of sin offers. It is God's mercy that makes the benefits of this law available to all men. It is by mercy that a man realises he needs help, and comes to the right source for this help. It is by mercy that a man's past is completely wiped clean, and he is given a fresh start. It is by mercy that a man who is now saved is kept and sustained on the path of life till the Lord returns or calls him home. As he leaves on earth, there are standards he has to live up to, which are the rules of the new kingdom he has submitted to. If a sacrifice is to be offered, the animal does not have an opinion. It is offered despite any protests. For us, it is a willing sacrifice, made in appreciation of what we have received. We give up what we think is best for us, to take up what is actually best for us. 

The Conclusion:

The sacrifice has to be offered in line with the dictates and instructions of one requesting it, not the way I think it should be made. The terms used in the verse above are HOLY and ACCEPTABLE to God. These words are critical, because the standard of holiness is what God will not lower for anyone. He loves all of his creation, but he will not compromise on the standard simply because he needs a crowd. It appears to me that God is more interested in the inward, long before the outward will even matter. Man judges based on what he can see, and that is why man can be easily distracted and deceived. God is not moved by what men do; rather, he is interested in why man does what he does. My spiritual worship must be my focus. I need to stop worrying about the office or title, and start to focus on knowing God and his ways. It may be that he will send me out on assignment, or he could hide me away from the public until his work is formed in me, but however he decides to work in and through me, all I can be is totally surrendered and yielded to Him. That is all I must do. What would you do or give to God, for all He has done and given? God's time of favour is here.