Living Sacrifices?

Recently I was reflecting on the phrase offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and was letting that roll around in my mind and spirit all day.  This morning I went back to Romans 12 and continued reading for the next chunk of verses are clearly related to the first bit.  Paul basically is saying, if you want to know how to offer your bodies as a spiritual sacrifice, here is how to do it….

Here are the verses including the first two - Romans 12:1-13 NIV:

[1] “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. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

[3] “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; [7] if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; [8] if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” 

[9] “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. [10] Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. [11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [13] Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Isn’t it interesting that essentially Paul goes right into a focus on building up and loving the Body of Christ following his encouragement to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, it’s almost as if the two things are related!  

One of the things I have been looking at is the state of the Church, and by that I mean the larger corporate church that is the Body of Christ.  Using our body as an example, We can think of it as a single congregation (cellular), the city or regional group of churches (appendage or function), the church worldwide (the whole Body).  

I don’t think its an overstatement to say that most of the global and even city-wide churches don’t act like we are all part of one Body.  There is division, competition, fighting, disagreements over just about anything, and in some extreme cases, even warfare between denominations.  Locally there is often competition for believers, and congregations are often self-focused, looking at how to grow their own congregation, and not largely concerned or even relating to other churches in the same city.

Looking back at Paul’s writings, we can choose to live out these encouragements at each level, and embrace the idea of our oneness, whether we are seeing it or not.  We can choose to live like we all belong to one another, and choose to work for unity.  

I am reminded of Paul’s encouragement in his letter to the Philippians 2:1-5 NIV:

[1] “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 

[5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”

Paul’s encouragements are wonderful and almost the exact opposite of the spirit of this age, where so many people are clamoring to be noticed, to be followed, to influence others.  What a strange time we live in!  

In our personal lives, Paul encourages us to value others above ourselves and to consider other’s interests before our own. Imagine what this could mean, if we actually lived this out in our day to day life.  We would be concerned about other people, their situation, their needs, their livelihood, their families, their salvation.  Our neighbors, or colleagues, our friends, our acquaintances, our church family, our spouses, our children, I could continue on - these would be who we would consider.  

We wouldn’t be clamoring to be noticed, we would be working to raise each other up, to bless, to help, to express care and love! We would be outward focused, rather than inward focused.  We would take genuine interest in strangers, we would reach out to the loner, to the one that is new, or awkward, or unloved, or unlovable (our modern-day lepers).  I have a feeling that we don’t need to look far, as these people are all around us, we just don’t see them, because our eyes are focused on ourselves.

Maybe this is part of what it means to offer ourselves as living sacrifices?!

Oh Lord, I know I need your help, for my eyes are so often focused on me!  Help me to see others, to recognize that part of my call and invitation is to represent You, and I think this is how You lived, focused on all those around You!

Oh Lord, help us all to embrace our place in Your Body, where we each belong to one another!

Amen and Amen!