Living Sacrifices Do This

When reading Romans 12:3-8, verse 1 still rings in my head: “present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.” We may be centuries removed from the cultures that still offer sacrifices, but the image is still painted when we talk about an athlete on a sports team, or even a soldier on the battlefield for his country. In the ancient days, a sacrifice tended to be an animal that was killed in order to ask God (or gods) for something. This animal could have been used as a renewable resource (wool), a work force for harvesting crops (oxen), or food. Instead this sacrifice was given up to serve a greater purpose like atonement for the Israelites, or for pagan cultures, a plea for rain, good harvest, healthy babies, or whatever else was out of their control.

This urging of Paul to present our lives as a living sacrifice directly applies to the gifts of grace he then goes on to list out. We have been asked to serve so that the overall Body of Christ can function at its best. For this to happen, the attitude of each person should be one that not only knows it should serve others, but desires above all else to serve others. We put the needs of others above our own. We ask “how can I serve” before we ask “what do I need?” This may seem detrimental to the individual but if the whole Body is dedicated to serving each other, then no need will ever go unmet.

In another letter he wrote, Paul points to the example of Christ as the example of humility for each believer to follow: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:1-4 ESV).

So in Romans 12:3 where Paul says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,” my heart is moved to pray for God to shine his light on the darker parts of my heart that tend to focus on myself.

Father, where am I being selfish? Where am I only serving my own needs? How can I offer myself to help someone experience life in Christ, even if I’m not immediately served in return? My life is yours God, mold me to look more like Christ. Your kingdom come, your will be done and to you be the glory. Amen.

-Alex Berger, High School Youth Pastor