New Year Presentation (part 2)
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
How would you define clean? Is it fair to say that your definition of a clean house may not be someone else’s? I know that around the church office, my definition of clean is not always the same as the people I work with. There is no way I could work in an environment where things are strung out all over the room in a disorderly fashion. I dislike clutter and I can’t stand a messy desk for a work place. Before I leave every day, the last thing I do is clean my desk and arrange the room by placing things back where they belong. Call me OCD, but it works for me. Just be glad you don’t have to share a workspace with me. I wonder if what we define as a clean life or a holy life is God’s definition of a clean, holy and acceptable life?
As a living sacrifice we’re called by God to present ourselves to Him “holy.” Holy in the literal sense carries the idea of being set apart for spiritual purity and moral purposes. While sanctification and righteousness are synonymous with salvation when the Spirit convicts and cleanses from sin, temptation is still very much a reality in the life of the believer. Even though we strive to live holy before God, we yield to the tempters treacherous schemes, live in a fallen world, submit to human weakness and sin against God. God indicates through this one word the kind of commitment He desires and demands from us. When we come to a place of personal sacrifice and commitment we are to offer to God a life without blemish, defect, imperfection, and sin. While Christ provides His righteousness as our own before God, we must commit ourselves to a life of holiness.
As a living sacrifice we’re also called to present ourselves acceptable to God. As we present ourselves to God, we must present ourselves in a way that is acceptable to Him or in a way as He alone specifies. We should never offer an offering to God that is not acceptable to Him. The intent of the offering and the manner in which it is offered should always be taken into consideration when presenting oneself to God as a living sacrifice. In offering myself to God as a living sacrifice, I must relinquish any and all rights or claims I may want to protect and sacrificially surrender completely to His will, purpose and plan. Once I place myself before the Lord as a living sacrifice, I surrender my past, present, future, body, mind, heart, goals, dreams, possessions, and plans completely to Him. As a living sacrifice, I then become a steward of the things that are now His and His alone. From now on God can send me wherever He desires. He can remove anything that would prevent His will. He has the right to ask anything from me that would fulfill His purpose. He has complete authority and control to accomplish His purposes through my life. When my life s completely His, I will always seek do what is acceptable to Him even if it means I will disappoint others in my life. While Christ makes us acceptable before God, we must commit ourselves to His standard of acceptability.
As we reach the end of our journey I hope we will all be able to say with Paul: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Tim.4:6-8).
LIFE APP:
- God demands from me a living sacrifice that is holy
- God desires from me a living sacrifice acceptable to Him alone
- As I present myself to God, in Christ I can meet all of His requirements
PRAY:
- Lord, empower my resolve to live a holy and righteous life for YOUR glory
- Lord, enable my offering to meet your approval alone
- Lord, encourage my commitment for I live in a fallen world
