What Does It Mean To Be A Living Sacrifice For God?

Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.

Mary Washed Jesus’ Feet With Her Hair

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when we read of Mary washing Jesus’ feet with her hair. It’s not clear exactly which Mary this is, but whoever she is, she went against the norms of the culture to do what she did. She risked her reputation, her financial stability, and was scorned.

Mary’s first brave step was to enter a room full of males. They told her she had no place there. She then poured a bottle of perfume over Jesus and cleaned Him with her hair. She ignored the scornful words of those around her to do what she felt she needed to do. What the men in the room did not understand, but I believe Mary knew, is that she was preparing Jesus for His burial.

This act of Mary was a beautiful picture of worship. Undeterred by the consequences, she had to complete what God placed on her heart. You can read her full story in John chapter twelve.

Offer Your Bodies As A Living Sacrifice

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1 NIV

In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This means not only taking care of our bodies physically, but also surrendering them to God’s will for our lives. Most importantly, we give worship to God when we take care of ourselves and stay as healthy as possible. Before we go any further, we should look at how Jesus became a living sacrifice.

Jesus, A Living Sacrifice

If you go back to the book of Leviticus in chapters one through five, you will find the five offerings God commanded the Israelites to make. They are the:

• Burnt Offering
• Grain Offering
• Fellowship Offering
• Sin Offering
• Guilt Offering

When we study Jesus and know that He is the fulfillment of the law, we can see where He also became the final sacrifice for the law. Here is how He fulfilled this:

• Jesus offered Himself completely to God. He held nothing back, and this fulfills the burnt offering.
• Living a sinless life fulfilled the grain offering.
• Jesus not only gave Himself completely to God but also completely to us, making Himself the fellowship offering.
• When Jesus died upon the cross, He took on all the sins we have committed and will ever commit, and this fulfills the sin offering.
• Jesus not only bore our sins but He made restitution for them and that fulfills the guilt offering.

“Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

Colossians 2:16-17 NIV

Paul is saying in this scripture from Colossians not to let anyone speak of what you are eating or drinking because that is from the law, but to see how that was a shadow, a picture, of what Jesus did by fulfilling the law.

Our Bodies Are Temples Of The Holy Spirit

Now we have to ask ourselves, how do we become living sacrifices because of all He did for us? As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. That means our bodies are no longer our own, but vessels for God’s presence in the world. God lives within us and through us via the Holy Spirit. When we honor our bodies, we honor the Holy Spirit within us.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we surrender ourselves to God’s will for our lives. Paul continues in Romans chapter twelve by talking about gifts God gives us to use for the building up of His kingdom. We will go through those in an upcoming post.

God Calls Us

No matter what type of health we are in, our bodies will eventually deteriorate. As believers, we are just passing through this life into the next. Our souls will live on for eternity. While we are here, God calls us to live a life pleasing to Him.

Many people think that to serve God, we need to become missionaries and travel overseas. Sometimes that is what He calls us to do, but more often than not, He calls us to our own backyard. God calls some of us to love on our neighbors. He calls others to be a light in their workplace. Some He calls to teach Sunday school or online. No matter where you find yourself, God has a plan and purpose for you. He wants to use you to grow and flourish His church here on Earth.

A Daily Choice

Offering our bodies as living sacrifices is not a onetime decision. It’s a daily choice that requires intentional thought and action. Every day is a decision. We can decide to make better choices to keep God’s dwelling place in peak condition, and we have to decide each day to serve Him. It’s a sacrifice either way that requires perseverance and self-discipline.

When we offer ourselves to God, we obey His call to live a life that honors Him. It’s a sacrifice that requires us to view our bodies through the lens of our relationship with God, surrendering ourselves to His will for our lives. While it may be a challenging concept, it’s also one that brings immense joy and purpose to our lives as we serve others and advance His kingdom. May we all strive to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

Scripture Memorization