"A Living Sacrifice" 

Roman's 12:1 "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."

The power and conviction of this verse is as life-altering today as the first time it drove me to my knees. I heard Paul loud and clear as he begged me to be totally committed. To be a living sacrifice seemed like an oxymoron, because sacrifices are usually dead.  So how is a Christian supposed to be living sacrificer? With sacrificial service, or worship, that is reasonable for someone who is genuinely grateful for what they have received from God.  The goal of presenting when self as a living sacrifice is service.

Zacharius, the father of John the Baptist, prayed that "we might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life". That is a beautiful model of what it means to live as a sacrifice to Christ. Dedicated people do not just wear the label, they demonstrate their dedication by going places and doing things and living for the cause of Christ. They act constructively as people committed to fulfilling Christ's plans and purposes in this world. Since He first spoke to me this has been my commitment and still is today. If you are a brother or sister to Paul by faith, what does this verse say to you?

In Him by mercy as always,
Pastor Fred