A living sacrifice

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

- Romans 12v1

How can a sacrifice be a alive? At first appearance it almost looks like a total contradiction. Sacrifices conjure up images of animals on an altar and a priest with a knife, or humans being tossed into a big fire.

Yet Paul, as chapter 12 opens is begging his readers to present their bodies as living sacrifices. I think that the main idea here is that as we stay alive and serve, we sacrifice our earthly plans, desires, goals, wishes, programmes, agendas, possessions, finances and every other thing that may stop us from following Him with all our hearts.

It reminds me of the Old Testament passage that says the Lord requires obedience more than sacrifice, for isn’t that what a living sacrifice is? Is that not simple willingness to obey God no matter what?

It is this kind of sacrifice that God says is holy. It is the kind of sacrifice that truly pleases God. And it is that kind of sacrifice that is truly not exceptional, but reasonable.