Week 11 - LIVING SACRIFICES FOR JESUS - Romans 12

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” 

 In view of God’s mercy… 

Considering all that has happened since the fall of man after creation: 

all that has happened after starting over with Noah’s family;

all that has happened since God called Abraham; 

all that God put up with from the people of Israel under Moses; 

all that God put up with during the time of the kings and the prophets; 

all that God put up with watching Jesus be opposed, rejected and falsely accused by the very people of God he came to save;

and all that God sacrificed in the giving of his Son on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, so that the Holy Spirit could be available for all nations of the earth, and so that death could be conquered, assuring us of eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth… 

How should we live life? 

In view of God’s mercy, we should offer OUR bodies as living sacrifices to God! No longer thinking, speaking, and acting as the pattern of behavior we see around us in the world but setting our minds on Christ and allowing Him to transform us by his Spirit within us! 

“Living sacrifices” looks like sincere love, devoted to one another; honoring one another; sharing; hospitable; living in harmony; associating with the least; living at peace; rejoicing and mourning. It looks like blessing our enemies, overcoming evil with good. 

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” (vs. 2) Jesus said, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:17)

Father, help me be a living sacrifice in view of your mercy to me through Jesus.

—Charlie Herndon