A Living SacrificeSample

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV)

At this point in Romans 12, I find myself wanting to say, “Okay Paul, I get it.” But do I? You must remember that Paul, formerly called Saul, was a religious Jewish zealot, highly educated and respected. He hated the Christians at first and actively sought to have them arrested. He did not understand The Way, until he encountered Jesus.

He talks about his experience,“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”Acts 26:15-18 ESV

Paul had a radical transformation. God forgave him of his atrocious sins of persecuting the Christians and redeemed him to a new way of life. Paul understood the difference between just believing in Christ and living for Him. The rest of his life he lived sacrificially, submitted to the Lord’s mission. And because of this, he was the target of those who did not understand Christ. Paul spent much time in prison and was beaten, facing death many times, but he never fought back, except to show love and give his testimony.

Paul was a living sacrifice.