ROMANS 12
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. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. – Romans 12:1-8
ROMANS 12 A LIVING SACRIFICE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As people of God, we need to offer our bodies as living sacrifice
This means that we are not to follow the world’s selfish ways
Since God has given us his Son Jesus so that we can be cleansed
Let us all continue to live holy lives and stay clear of sins.
Unlike the first century Christians who know what it means to sacrifice to atone for their sins, we don’t. In those times, they have to go to a priest who becomes the mediator to offer such sacrifices. But when Jesus came, he became the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins. He is our high priest who mediates between God and man. This is why we no longer do those animal offerings because Jesus died for us all already. So, how do we come close to worshiping God in truth and in spirit? We go to Jesus. We do not rely on our own understanding and work because he has already finished that work on the cross. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns the believer that no one should take you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
REFLECTION
- What does it look like to be a living sacrifice for God in our world today?
