Isa. 66:4 π Rom. 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” ( Rom. 12:1; top )
Contemporary Christians rarely give up things in order to the live scripturally required living of a sacrificed life. They try to get more things, thinking gain is Godliness.
We gasp as we read in the Old Testament how the apostasized Israelites sacrificed their children to other gods, yet we duplicate their example by sacrificing our children to the T.V. set.
We further wonder incredibly how the Israelites could have every used swine for their sacrifice, and even sacrificed lowly mice to their totem pole-like idols, and the Lord said that they and their sacrifices would be consumed together. Yet we fail to see the application of this to our present-day lifestyle of giving a few dollars to the United Fund to help ease our conscience of the burden toward helping the poor, and then setting aside a little every payday for a large-screen T.V. set so the family can enjoy the colorful shows – belittling and ridiculing the God of the Bible. How could this lifestyle keep judgment from coming?
The wayward Israelites chose to sacrifice things that didn’t conflict with their apostate lifestyle, instead of sacrificing those things that would promote them hearing from God. Isa. 66:4 says, “So will I also choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.” (top)
We often boast that we are serving God, but in truth we are serving our own desires and egos, while refusing to sacrifice even our leisure time to pray and seek God. It seems we must make our Christianity totally palatable, pleasant and acceptable. Jesus knew nothing of such a false religion. The more we pamper our fleshly comfort, the more it will demand of us, until we become its servant.
Complete sacrifice is the true status symbol of Christianity, yet very few spiritual leaders seek the sacrificial life of a Paul or Jesus, as they desire self-esteemed success, to be seen and recognized of men.
The initial verse in Romans, at the beginning of this article, is concerned about something much more profound than the giving up of things, but the complete sacrifice of our vessels to be used whenever God chooses.
We cannot live to the Spirit and be available for God’s promptings as long as our fleshly life rules us.
I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!