A LIVING SACRIFICE
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June 2001
As we walk in our everyday lives, have you thought about how you are presenting yourself for Christ and to Christ? I know we are not perfect. But we do have a responsibility unto our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Romans 12:1-2 we are told, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Paul was telling the believers in Rome to live a holy life in Christ, to serve the Lord and not to serve sin. We should be set apart, be an example of Christ, epistles written in the flesh. We ought to be thinking of the things of Christ Jesus, keeping His Commandments.
Hosea 6:6 says, "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Here Hosea was telling Israel that God wanted loyalty and devotion. God wanted His people to know Him, a true knowledge of Him in their hearts and minds. Not just mere head knowledge, but to really know God and understand His commandments. To understand God's genuine authority in their lives that would bring obedience to His commandments. Their sacrifices were empty, ritualistic and vain. Their hearts were not into sacrifices, they did what they thought would merely appease the Almighty Righteous God above.
The question we ought to ask ourselves is this: Are we religious, vain i our understanding, in whom we are in Christ?
It should not be so for we are to present ourselves unto the Lord, holy, setting the example of Christ, a living sacrifice unto Christ. Let's look as Matthew 9:13 where Jesus refers to the Pharisees: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Man alive, what a blast from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! He desires loyalty, not eternal repetitious rituals that look good to mere men. He wants a humble and contrite heart. We shouldn't be caught up in ritualistic modes and sacrifices.
Let's move over to Galatians 2:20 which reads, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh is justified. We've got to live and walk by faith in Christ Jesus for there is no other way. In Romans 6:4 Paul tells believers, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Walk in the newness of life, life in Christ Jesus. Renewing our minds in our lord Jesus Christ. We are to be in action for our Lord Jesus Christ, for our faith in Him produces out works, that we might present ourselves acceptable and pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us not be caught up in religion, but a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP in Christ Jesus. Mt friends, let us be diligent in all we do, and be that living sacrifice unto Jesus Christ, serving Him with all our being, setting the example for those who watch us every day, the unsaved, and those who are coming to Christ.
May Jesus Christ bless you and keep you with all manner of love and truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Peace and strength unto you all. Amen.
(c) 2001 by Pastor Aaron D. Lint
