Back to Basics: Living for Him!
The Call to Sacrificial Living!
In a world constantly pulling us toward self-indulgence and personal gratification, the biblical call to sacrifice stands in stark contrast. The Apostle Paul delivers this challenging exhortation in Romans 12:1 [KJV]: "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." This profound statement invites us to consider what it truly means to live sacrificially for Christ in today's world.
The concept of sacrifice permeates Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices symbolised the seriousness of sin and the cost of atonement. However, these sacrifices were merely shadows pointing toward the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As Hebrews 10:14 [KJV] reminds us: "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Christ's sacrifice on the cross was complete and perfect, requiring nothing more to secure our salvation.
Yet, while Christ's sacrifice means we need not earn our salvation, it simultaneously calls us to a life of sacrificial living. Our motivation is not to gain God's favour but to respond to the immeasurable love He has already shown us. As 1 John 4:19 [KJV] states simply but profoundly: "We love him, because he first loved us."
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? It encompasses every dimension of our existence. Paul clarifies in Romans 12:2 [KJV]: "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." This transformation begins in our thinking, which then influences our actions, habits, and ultimately our character.
Being a living sacrifice means surrendering our plans, ambitions, and desires to God's sovereign will. King Solomon wisely observed in Proverbs 3:5-6 [KJV]: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." This surrender isn't a one-time event but a daily, moment-by-moment choice to yield our wills to His.
Our culture celebrates independence and self-determination, making the call to sacrificial living counter-cultural and challenging. Yet Christ himself set this example: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" Mark 10:45 [KJV]. If the Lord of glory humbled Himself to serve others, how much more should we?
Sacrificial living often involves denying ourselves immediate pleasures for greater spiritual rewards. Jesus taught in Matthew 16:24-25 [KJV]: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." This divine paradox reveals that in giving up our lives, we discover true life in Christ.
The transformative process of becoming a living sacrifice requires the renewal of our minds. We live in an age of unprecedented information, yet much of what bombards us daily contradicts God's truth. Scripture calls us to be intentional about what we allow to shape our thinking: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" Philippians 4:8 [KJV].
How do we practically renew our minds? Through consistent immersion in Scripture, regular fellowship with believers, heartfelt prayer, and worshipping God in spirit and truth. Psalm 119:11 [KJV] reminds us: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Scripture memorisation and meditation anchor our minds in God's truth amidst a sea of competing worldviews.
Jesus often spoke about "having eyes to see and ears to hear." In Matthew 13:16 [KJV], He declares: "But blessed are your eyes, for they see and your ears, for they hear." Spiritual perception is a gift from God that enables us to understand the mysteries of His kingdom. Without this divine enablement, even the most intelligent person cannot grasp spiritual truths. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 [KJV] explains: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
This spiritual discernment grows as we walk in obedience. Jesus promised in John 7:17 [KJV]: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Obedience creates a virtuous cycle: as we obey what we understand, God grants greater understanding, leading to deeper obedience.
Living sacrificially isn't meant to be a solitary journey. The New Testament repeatedly uses the phrase "one another" to emphasise our mutual responsibilities within the body of Christ. We're instructed to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2 [KJV] and to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" Hebrews 10:24 [KJV].
As we strive to live for Him, let us remember the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20 [KJV]: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Our sacrificial living flows from Christ's indwelling presence and sustaining power.
Offering ourselves as living sacrifices means daily surrendering to God's will, renewing our minds through His Word, developing spiritual discernment, and supporting fellow believers on this journey. Though challenging, this path leads to experiencing God's love and grace in profound ways, finding our true purpose, and ultimately bringing glory to the One who sacrificed everything for us…
Key Takeaways:
- Sacrificial Living is Counter-Cultural: In a world focused on self-gratification, believers are called to present themselves as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1 KJV), offering their entire being to God's service.
- Our Sacrifice is a Response to Christ's: We don't sacrifice to earn salvation but in grateful response to the perfect sacrifice Jesus already made for us (1 John 4:19 KJV).
- Mind Renewal is Essential: Transformation begins with renewing our minds through Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship (Romans 12:2 KJV, Philippians 4:8 KJV).
- Spiritual Discernment Grows Through Obedience: As we obey what we understand, God grants greater spiritual perception and understanding (John 7:17 KJV).
- We Need Community: Sacrificial living isn't meant to be a solitary journey but one supported by the body of Christ as we bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2 KJV).
- The Paradox of Surrender: In giving up our lives for Christ, we discover our true purpose and experience His indwelling presence and power (Galatians 2:20 KJV, Matthew 16:24-25 KJV).
