Romans 12:1

NASB	NLT	VOICE
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.	1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because for all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.	1 Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.

Sacrificial Worship

Paul is encouraging the Roman people through God’s mercies, which was the central theme in his entire letter, to become living sacrifices. Paul elaborated on God’s grace and mercy, especially in salvation through Jesus. The act of being a sacrifice is redefined in this context, from the death of a living being to a living, ongoing act of worship. This act of worship should be holy and pleasing. To be holy means to be set apart for God’s services. To be pleasing to God means to be aligned with His will and character. Overall, offering ourselves to God is a logical response to His forgiveness of our sins. To worship God goes beyond the rituals of church. It involves a lifestyle that is devoted and obedient to Him. 

Live Life Through God’s Mercy

Recognizing God’s mercy as the motivation of our actions leads us to respond with gratitude and commitment. In all my years, I’ve never heard a teaching about using God’s mercy as the reason for us to go and do things for His will. We are called to go out and love each other in the same self-sacrificial way that Christ died for us. The amount of compassion you have to have for someone that you would be willing to risk your life is something that is unfathomable for our everyday life. Wrapping our minds around that is very difficult, especially given the culture and values in our world today. That’s what makes what Christ did for us so special and impactful. The fact that we have a current, guaranteed relationship with our Heavenly Father is something that we can’t take for granted. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we face a punishment like Christ and an eternal separation from God. Instead of spending our afterlife floating through an empty void of nothingness, I want to love like Christ here on earth, secure my place in Heaven, and do my absolute best to show that same love and compassion to all people I interact with. 

Reflection Question

1. How do you feel about being a sacrifice through our worship? 
2. How do you incorporate your devotion to God in your everyday life? 
3. What are 3 ways you can share the love of Christ to those around you?

Call to Action

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Thank God for the temple that He has gifted you to house the Holy Spirit. Ask God if how you are living is the best way to keep the temple holy. See what ways you can strengthen the temple.

Check out the next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #293