There’s this Gospel song that says “Receive this living Sacrifice, I’m your worship.” I never understood those lines until a later time as I grew in my work with Abba. Do you think calling someone a “Living Sacrifice is weird?” So, I thought as well. Journey with me as we explore if it’s right to say that and what it truly means.
I found out that as humans, we were created to worship. Hence, It is part of our nature, and it is something that we do naturally, consciously or unconsciously. However, what comes to your mind when you hear worship is “singing slow songs, emotional songs or attending church services”, right? But, worship goes beyond that. It’s a way of life; how you live your life, the choices you make, the things you do, etc.
Remember, Romans 12:1 — says that “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.”[NIV]
However, I love the Message translation more, for it says; “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.” [MSB]
In other words, your greatest act of worship is offering yourself (all you do) to God as a living sacrifice.
So what does it mean to be a Living Sacrifice?
Being a living sacrifice means completely surrendering or giving yourself to God, withholding nothing. Your wills, your desires, your emotions, your plans, your thoughts, etc are His. Here, the self has no place. Instead, you place your life in His hands and walk away as you trust Him to guide you and lead you on the way to walk.
To put it another way, offering yourself as a living sacrifice can be likened to saying; “I am yours, God, use me as you will.” It means you’re giving totality to him. Thus, I want you to know that it’s an act of worship that is done daily, it’s not a one-time thing. You’re expected to daily lay down your desires before Him.
Is it easy?
Of course, it’s not. Imagine wanting so huge and God is telling you to start with just a step (small). It’ll require self-denial, sacrifice, saying no to fleshly desires, putting others before you, etc. It’s not easy. However along with it comes immeasurable rewards such as peace, joy, fulfilment, direction, etc.
Remember, in Matthew 16:24 —“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”[NIV]
Hence, Jesus is a great example of a living sacrifice. He gave up his life just so we could be reconciled to God.
I must say there’s nothing as beautiful as that and We are called to follow in His footsteps, to lay down our own lives for the sake of others and the glory of God.
So why should we be One?
The answer is simple: because God deserves it. He has given us everything, including our very lives. We owe Him everything, and the least we can do is offer ourselves back to Him as a living sacrifice.
Also, the only way to get the best out of life is by being a living sacrifice, if not, you’ll be tossed to and fro by the winds of life.
CONCLUSION
Being a living sacrifice is not just an act of worship, but a way of life. It requires sacrifice and self-denial, but the rewards are immeasurable. We are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to lay down our lives for the sake of others and the glory of God. Let us offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing.
In what ways are you willing to offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God? And what do you think about it? Share with us in the comment section below.