LIVING SACRIFICES Devotion 10 of 24 "THAT YOU" IT IS PERSONAL! A legalistic religion tends to emphasize what is required in others. It moves those who are unaware that a log is protruding from their own eye, to seek to remove a small sliver from the eye of a brother. However, when the grace of God consciously surrounds the heart, one's religion becomes intensely personal. When the exhortation "that YOU present" is read or heard, the sensitive soul immediately translates it into "that I present." YOUR RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT END WHEN SPIRITUAL LIFE BEGINS! As elementary as it may seem, our responsibility toward the Lord does not end at the beginning of newness of life. Although it is not fashionable to speak in this manner, God is calling His people to higher ground. Our text is an excellent example of this. In view of many religious emphases, it is interesting to consider what the text does NOT say. Remember, this is the beginning of a new section of the book, and it is the very first exhortation constrained by the lofty truths that have been affirmed with unusual emphasis and power. "PRESENT YOUR BODIES" " . . . present your bodies . . . " Other versions read "offer your bodies" (NIV), and "give your bodies" (BBE/NLT). The Amplified Bible reads, "make a full decisive dedication of your bodies -- presenting all of your members and faculties." WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS ABOUT OUR BODIES A novice might imagine that God would ask us to offer our hearts, or our minds, or our wills to Him. Instead, He asks us to present our bodies! Here is the weakest part of our beings, the most culpable member of our makeup. God does not ask us to ignore our bodies, but to present them to God! He knows they are, from one perspective, "vile bodies" (Phil 3:21). That, of course, is precisely why they are to be "presented" or "offered" to Him. It is in prospect of this presentation that the following is said of our bodies. – Tomorrow:
"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. 2 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)
" . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . . "
It is interesting to speculate what practical application of the truths expounded in this book would be made by our religious peers. What kind of admonition would come to their mind when hearing of a Sovereign God who loves Jacob and hates Esau – BEFORE they were born? What sort of reactions would be expected when hearing of God raising up Pharaoh, cutting some branches off of the tree of Israel, and grafting in some branches from a wild olive tree? How would men be expected to respond to the promise that God would turn away ungodliness from Jacob, or that He was able to graft them in again? What are believers expected to do when they hear about righteousness being imputed, or faith being the basis of acceptance, or God working all things together for their good?
I do not doubt that some imagine no response is necessary at all. Some simply thrust all of these things from their mind, perceiving them to be too deep for them, and thus proceed with their own private agenda. The mindset of the average Christian is far removed from making any association between the profound declarations of the Lord and the response of His people to them. However, God does require a response from us, and will exhort us to see to it that it is accomplished.
If we do not approach this text with that in mind, it will appear to be a mere option – something we may or may not do. It may even be perceived as something that separates advanced believers from juvenile ones, or leaders from followers. Although quite common, such conclusions are all delusions, bringing death to the soul and separating the individual from the Lord. No one can afford to embrace them.
The fact that this exhortation is to be fulfilled "by the mercies of God" accentuates its indispensability. The appeal to God's mercy does not suggest He will be tolerant of a refusal to do what He says. It does not indicate what is admonished is really not necessary, or that He is willing to remain and work with the deluded soul who ignores this requirement. Rather, "the mercies of God" confirm that He will work with us in this area – and will do so because of its absolute necessity. Neither the Law, its ceremonies, nor grace, remotely suggest that God will ever receive what is not presented to Him. His "mercies" provoke and enable that presentation to be made. This confirms how necessary the presentation is, else God would not underwrite it with His own nature and gifts.
The "you," a supplied pronoun, is the "brethren" in the first clause. It is the "beloved of God" and "the called of Jesus Christ" 1:7. It is those who are "justified" in 5:1, and those who "are not under the law, but under grace" in 6:14.
Depending on the church environment to which you have been subjected, you may very well have heard one or more of the following priorities. "Begin witnessing to everyone," "Get the baptism of the Holy Ghost," "Assume the proper role in your home," "Get involved in politics," or some similar emphasis. Whatever place may be assigned to these things, it is NOT one of priority.
The word "present," or "offer," means to place beside or near, to place something at the disposal of another. It involves the invitation for another to examine as well as accept what is offered.
Presentation, or offering does not assume acceptance by God, but earnestly seeks it. When something is offered to God, an appeal is made for it to be received. God's reception is not assumed. In such presentations God looks upon the heart and the thrust of the person's life, as well as the conformity of the offering to His requirements. There have been things offered to God that were NOT accepted.
1. Cain's offering was not accepted (Gen 4:5).
2. King Saul's sacrifices were not acceptable (1 Sam 15:22).
3. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God (Prov 21:27).
4. Israel's sacrifices became an abomination to God (Isa 1:11-14; Jer 6:20; 14:12; Amos 5:22).
Under the Law, for example, there were certain requirements for offering an animal to God.
1. It had be at least eight days old (Lev 22:27).
2. It has to be offered with salt (Lev 2:13).
3. A male without blemish (Lev 22:19).
In the days of Malachi God upbraided the priests for offering unacceptable things to Him. This included "polluted bread" and "blind," "lame," and "sick" animals (Mal 1:7). Thus the quality of the sacrifice as well as the one making the sacrifice was judged.
This reasoning is to be applied to the offering now before us, for these words were written for our learning. Those ancient sacrifices, and the rules pertaining to them, revealed the mind of the Lord concerning better sacrifices. He meticulously fulfilled them in the offering of His only begotten Son. We do well not to ignore them in the presentation of our bodies to God.
1. The Spirit quickens our "mortal bodies" (Rom 8:11).
2. Our bodies are "the members of Christ" (1 Cor 6:15).
3. In baptism, they have been "washed with pure waters," thus dedicating them to the Lord (Heb 10:22).
4. The body is "for the Lord" (1 Cor 6:13).
5. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).
6. God is to be glorified in our body (1 Cor 6:20).
We cannot, therefore, be indifferent about our bodies. If they are "the members of Christ" and are "for the Lord," who will dare to treat them with indifference. They are to be "presented" or "offered" to our God.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I want to do what you require, but sense my own weakness. I therefore ask you in the name of Jesus, to give me strength to offer my body to You as a living sacrifice, holding nothing back.