Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – We can only be completely transformed by the power of God’s Word. Romans 12:1 helps us recognize the principle of transformation for our lives.
Romans 12:1 calls us to offer your body to God as a living and holy sacrifice. This is the reasonable worship of those who have received God’s mercy. This article helps us understand what offering our bodies to God means in everyday life. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
Offering Your Body as a Living Sacrifice
Offering our bodies to God begins with recognizing the great mercy He has shown us in Christ.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
All of us want our lives to improve day by day. In the United States, people spend billions of dollars on products, books, seminars and conferences, hoping their lives will get better. Sadly, the results are often disappointing or only temporary. They invest money, time and effort, yet their lives do not change.
Romans 12:1 shows us the first principle of change: the principle of dedication: commit your body to God.
Every change in any area of your life starts with your body. Why?
Because your body affects your behavior. And every change in your life requires energy. Many people never change, or don’t want to, because they are too tired to change.
If you want to change, you must make a choice. That is why the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “offer your bodies.” It is your body, so you must make the choice for yourself. If you choose not to change, you will stay the same.
Paul then says we are to offer our bodies as our “spiritual service of worship.” Here are three ways to offer our bodies to God as an act of worship:
Cleanse your body
I am not talking about taking a bath. I am talking about purification. “Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
How we eat or drink can defile our bodies. What we watch or listen to can defile our spirits.
Care for your body
“After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church” (Ephesians 5:29).
God wants you to take good care of your body, get enough rest and eat nutritious food so that you stay healthy.
Control your body
“Each of you should know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:4). This means you have authority over your body; it does not have authority to make you obey it. Discipline yourself so your life becomes better. “I discipline my body and make it my slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Offering Your Body to God in Daily Life
Offering our bodies to God is not only something we do at church. It is how we use our eyes, ears, hands and time every day: what we watch, what we say, where we go and how we treat others.
A living sacrifice differs from an Old Testament sacrifice in that it must be offered again every day. So each morning, tell God, “Today I offer my body to You; use me according to Your will.”
Transformation does not come from trying in our own strength, but from letting God’s Word renew our minds, as Romans 12:2 teaches. When our minds are renewed, the way we use our bodies changes too.
Choose one specific area this week in which to offer your body to God: perhaps guarding your eyes from unhealthy images, taking better care of your health, or using your hands to serve someone in need.
You may also like: 5 Ways to Break Bad Habits and Daily Devotional Time in 5 Simple Steps.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the mercy You have shown us. Today we offer our bodies to You as living sacrifices. Renew our minds by Your Word, so that we live to please You every day. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Communications Ministry – Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church
Adapted from: RickWarren.org
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