The Transformed Life – a Call to ConsecrationНамуна

Presenting Your Body as a Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1b)

“Present” (paristēmi)

The Greek word paristēmi means to present, offer, or place before. This verb indicates a deliberate act a willful offering, much like a priest would offer a sacrifice to God in the temple. The act of presenting is not passive but requires a conscious decision to surrender.

Romans 6:13 – “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."

Insight: Paul contrasts presenting ourselves to sin versus presenting ourselves to God. This emphasizes that presenting our bodies to God is a choice and requires a conscious redirection of our will toward righteousness.

“Living Sacrifice”

The phrase “living sacrifice” is profound. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were dead, and the offering was killed to atone for sin. But now, believers offer themselves as living sacrifices, meaning that our lives are continually laid down in worship and surrender to God. It is a daily act of choosing to live in obedience to God.

1 Peter 2:5 – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Insight: living sacrifice speaks to the ongoing nature of our consecration. Unlike the one-time dead sacrifices of the Old Testament, our living sacrifice is something we continually present to God through our daily lives. Our sacrifice is active, involving our whole being in service to God.

“Holy, Acceptable to God”

This portion of the verse tells us that the sacrifice must be holy (set apart for God) and acceptable to God. It speaks to the quality of our offering. It’s not just any offering that pleases God, but one that is pure and devoted to Him.

Leviticus 11:44 – “For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.”

Insight: Holiness means dedicating ourselves fully to God. It is not about moral perfection in the sense of achieving sinless perfection, but about setting ourselves apart for God’s purposes, living lives that are aligned with His will.

Insight: Our offering is not just about external actions but also about a heart posture of thanksgiving and praise to God. Holiness is reflected not just in what we do but in how we do it—out of a heart of gratitude and devotion.

“Which is Your Reasonable Service”

The phrase “reasonable service” (Greek: logikē latreia) points to something that is logical, rational, and spiritual. Paul argues that, in light of God’s mercy (Romans 12:1a), offering our lives as living sacrifices is the only reasonable response.

Romans 6:19 – “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Insight: This verse shows that presenting our bodies to God for holiness is the rational choice. It’s logical to surrender our lives to God, given the magnitude of what He has done for us in salvation.

Related Scriptures to Reflect On

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Insight: Our bodies are not our own. They belong to God and should be used to glorify Him. Consecrating our bodies means using them as temples of the Holy Spirit, offering them as living sacrifices for God’s purposes.

Hebrews 13:15 – “Therefore by Him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Insight: This verse reminds us that sacrifice is not just about physical acts but about worship that flows from our hearts, giving God praise continually. Our actions and words should reflect our devotion to God.

Revelational Insight: The Nature of a Living Sacrifice

A living sacrifice is not just a spiritual concept but one that must be embodied in practical, daily choices. Consecration is not just a momentary act; it’s a lifestyle of surrender. We must recognize that everything we do our thoughts, actions, words, and even our habits reflects the degree of consecration we offer to God.

Sacrifice is not only external but internal; it involves our hearts, attitudes, and motivations. A true living sacrifice is holistic, involving every part of who we are, both physically and spiritually.

Living sacrifice means daily surrender. This is the challenge of living as a sacrifice. It’s not a one-time act but a continuous offering of our bodies, our hearts, and our minds to God each day.

The quality of the sacrifice matters! Only what is holy and acceptable to God is worthy of being presented. This means we must be diligent in our pursuit of holiness, ensuring that our offering is aligned with God’s will and pleasing to Him.

Personal Application

Offer Your Body: Take time today to reflect on how you can present your physical body as a living sacrifice. This may involve how you care for your body, what you allow it to do, and the decisions you make with it. Are there areas where your body is being used for purposes that don’t glorify God? (Full Body Examination)

Holiness and Acceptability: Ask God to reveal areas of your life where you may be offering something less than holy or acceptable to Him. Holiness is a process, and daily we must align ourselves with His will. Seek His help to be more consecrated in your daily walk.

Reflect on the mercy God has shown you. Is your response to His mercy reasonable? Ask yourself if you’re offering your life back to Him as a logical, rational response to His love and grace. Is your life a testimony of the reasonableness of devotion to God?

Personal Prayer

Father, I thank You for the mercies You have shown me. I offer my body as a living sacrifice to You today. I pray that it would be holy and acceptable in Your sight. Help me to continually live in surrender to You, making my life an ongoing offering of worship. May every part of me, my thoughts, actions, and body, reflect Your love and grace. I surrender my will to Yours, knowing this is the reasonable response to Your great mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.