A Living Sacrifice for God, or True Dedication

“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. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).

What is a living sacrifice? Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that they should, through the mercy (redeeming love) of God, be willing to present to Him their bodies as a living sacrifice. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe in his commentary on Romans calls this Paul’s “therefore” of dedication, being totally committed to God. God does not want nor need a dead sacrifice; He wants our bodies as a “living sacrifice.” The spiritual era of offering a lamb or dove for a sacrifice is past; Christ Himself gave His own body as our sacrifice for sin. Now God wants us in total surrender, a living, moving, active, thinking, responsible person, holy (pure and sacred, sanctified), one that can be acceptable to God. This is our “reasonable service” to Him and carries the idea of spiritual worship. Every day, therefore, should find us in service to God, yielded to Him, praising Him, serving Him. Before we turned to the Lord in faith and received His forgiveness, we gave little thought to being holy and acceptable to God. But, in our new relationship with God, our body becomes His temple; He indwells us: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Godm, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in you body and in your spirit, which are God's.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). The use of the strong verb “present” carries with it the idea of committing once and for all—as in a marriage ceremony the bride and groom promise to commit themselves from that day forth to each other, so the Christian pledges himself to God.

Then Paul turns in his teaching on the “therefore of dedication” to two more strong verbs. “Donot be conformed to this world.” To be “conformed to” the world is to take on the identity, shape and characteristics of the world; to be no different than those who have worldly ways. To be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” is to undergo a complete change, a metamorphosis. The same Greek word was used for “transfigure” when the disciples Peter, James and John were on the mountain with Jesus and He was changed, transformed, before them and became illuminated with a heavenly glow. Our minds are renewed through Bible study and prayer. An excellent way to begin each day is in the transforming power of God’s presence. Yield to Him and dedicate your body, mind and spirit to Him for His use during that day. In that way, the world cannot put it into its misshapen mold. Yes, you have already yielded that once-for-all time to Him. But just as we need physical food daily to nourish our bodies and sustain good health, so we need a daily transformation of body, mind and will to God’s purposes and plans. Pray to undergo daily this transforming experience.