As we consider Romans 12:1-2 we are reminded that the living sacrifice we are to offer the Lord who died for us is the willingness to surrender to Him all our hopes, plans, and everything that is precious to us, all that is humanly important to us, all that we find fulfilling. The reason for this is because Jesus has already made the only “dead” sacrifice the New Covenant requires, all that remains for worshippers today is the presentation of themselves as living sacrifices. Christians who offer a living sacrifice of themselves usually do not consider it to be a sacrifice, the only things we entirely give up for God are sin and sinful things, which only bring us injury and death. But when we offer God the living sacrifice of ourselves, He does not destroy what we give Him but refines it and purifies it, not only for His glory but for our present and eternal good. The only spiritual service of worship that honors and pleases God is the sincere, loving, thoughtful, and heartfelt devotion and praise of His children. … READ MORE

According to Romans 12:11-2 we are to yield our bodies continually to the Lord. Under od’s control, our unredeemed bodies can and should become instruments of righteousness. It is because our bodies are still mortal and sinful that, “having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). WE cannot prevent the remnants of sin from persisting in our mortal bodies, but we are able, with the Lord’s power, to keep that sin from ruling our bodies. Since we are given a new, Spirit-indwelt nature through Christ, sin cannot reign in our souls. And we must choose not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. Paul admonishes us, by God’s mercies, to offer our imperfect but useful bodies to the Lord as “a living and holy sacrifice.” We need to remember, that Gods’ first and most important requirement for acceptable worship has always been a faithful and obedient heart. The ability to Choose to overcome sin in this body comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit as He applies the Word of God to our hearts, and therefore transforms our … READ MORE

In Romans 12:1-2 we are reminded that we are to “present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God.” Yet the body is still the center of sinful desires, emotional depression, and spiritual doubts. Paul gives insight into that sobering reality when he says, “I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). IN order to maintain a holy life and testimony and to minister effectively, even the great apostle had to exert himself strongly and continually in order to control the human and sinful part of himself that persistently wanted to rule and corrupt his life and his work for the Lord. Scripture makes clear that God created the body as good (Genesis), and that, despite the body’s continuing corruption by sin, the bodies of redeemed souls will also one day be redeemed and sanctified. The Lord created our bodies for Himself, and in this life, He cannot work through us without in some way working through our bodies. If we speak for Him, it must be through our mouths. If we read His Word, it must be with our eyes, if we hear … READ MORE