A Living Sacrifice

When studying the Old Testament, one finds that it is about sacrifice from the beginning. Sacrifice after sacrifice is made, none of which completely remove sin, but rather push it forward. Finally, Jesus came on the scene and became that sacrifice for us all. Thanks be to Jesus! But now the tables turn. Romans 12:1 says that now we must present our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God. This type of sacrifice is not for the atonement of sin, but for our "reasonable service" to God. I had an elder once tell me that every sacrifice hurts, in other words, when you sacrifice yourself pain is inevitable. This is not necessarily physical pain, but rather it hurts your flesh to give up. As we become holy and acceptable to God, there are things we have to give up that may "hurt." As we get closer to Jesus there is always something else to give up for Him. And every bit of it is worth it. A lot of people want to be easy on their flesh and let it feast on every lust that it has, but a true living sacrifice is without blemish and is holy. God may ask you to travel to South America and give your whole life to see the salvation of an indigenous people that have no "American" concept of life. Maybe he'll ask you to spend several days in fasting each week to be better prepared for His purpose for your life. And He might even ask you to give up your favorite thing that He might use you more. The question is this, will you be willing to be a living sacrifice when He come knocking on your door?