What is a living sacrifice? The scripture says it is holy, acceptable unto God, and a reasonable act of service. Still, when someone tells us to stop doing, we usually want to know why.
How do we know if we are a living sacrifice? If you want to judge yourself, judge yourself by the Word of God. My life is supposed to line up with the Word of God. No just a hearer, but a doer of the Word - and not just occasionally but daily.
Does being a living sacrifice mean we have less? No matter what is happening around you in society or in your personal life, you are blessed because God is with you. Even when things are expensive, if you have the money for it, you don't care. Similarly, even if circumstances are not what you want, God is all you need.
So what is a living sacrifice?
- A living sacrifice is a life holy devoted to God. The thing that has to die is your sinful nature.
- Are you killing those things that are NOT what God wants? Are you devoted to God?
Proverbs 6:16-19 The Lord wants us to obey Him in ALL that He says. He lists out things that He hates!
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- A living sacrifice is offering ourselves continually. A day-to-day surrendering of your desires to align to God's purpose.
- This means daily - even moment by moment, we have to surrender to the will of God.
- At the end of each day, do you ask "God are you pleased with me today?"
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Your body is a temple of the Lord. Because He indwells us, we can know what to say and do when He wants us to AND when to shut up and listen when He wants us to. We don't allow our pride to guide us, but we are the Holy Spirit's. We are not our own.
Our bodies were purchased on the cross by the blood of Jesus. We received everything AT THE CROSS. That's why we choose to be a living sacrifice and HONOR God with our bodies.
How do we honor God with our bodies?
- Treat your physical body as a temple. When you put the wrong things in the temple of God, you are disrespecting the one who gave it.
- Pursue sexual purity to glorify God in your body. Honor God with your body and stop trying to find someone to share your body with.
- Avoid actions or habits that misuse the body God has given you.
- Seek to honor God through relationships that align with His design for intimacy. (Do they love God? Do they honor Him above all else?)
- Engage in godly activities. When you live a certain life, the people around you know it by your actions.
- Use your physical abilities and your time to SERVE others.
- Engage in private times of worship - alone.
- Share the Word of God with others when the Lord puts it on your heart. Iron sharpens iron.
- Cultivate a spirit of gratitude. You were redeemed, so show gratitude for what He's done for you.
Galatians 2:20
'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. '
- We give up a life we used to live because we die with Christ. (Tip: Read this scripture in multiple versions to understand even more.)
