Living sacrifice.
There is a grammatical term for a phrase like this, isn’t there?
Yes, it’s an oxymoron.
Let’s have a small English session, shall we? 😅
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that brings together two contradictory or opposite terms to crate a new meaning.
By definition, “living” refers to the state of being alive (not dead), active, or in current use.
Sacrifice, refers to giving up something valuable- such as time, money, or a possession- for the sake of something deemed more important.
There are a lot of key words in this definition. 🤔
Sacrifice can also be defined as anything consecrated and offered to God.
Romans 12:1 NIV –
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
What is a living sacrifice?
To live as a “living sacrifice” means dedicating your entire daily life- body, time, and will – as a continuous offering to God, rather than offering a one-time, dead sacrifice.
It is a daily voluntary and total surrender of a person’s desires to align with God’s will, characterized by transformation, service, and spiritual worship.
Christianity is indeed an everyday with Jesus isn’t it. Daily. God help us!
A daily walk of faith, constant communion, a following of the example of Jesus, overcoming challenges (relying on His strength), as well as prioritizing His presence.
I haven’t been able to get the words of this song out of my head, hence this blog.
Read with me please:
I see wood
I see fire
I will be Your sacrifice
Use me Lord for Your glory
My life is available
May this be our daily declaration to God as we live with an eternity-mindset.
My mind is drawn to how God replaced the sacrifice of Isaac with a ram.
Christ took our place and we are oh so indebted.
He paid the debt that He did not owe. Such love. 🥰
Now as believers we are to live for God, pointing everyone around us to Jesus through our very lives.
Let’s look at some key aspects of a living sacrifice:
• Continuous surrender: daily or moment by moment surrender of our will.
• Holistic offering: using our physical body and life -including working, eating and sleeping 😅- as an instrument of righteousness for God.
• Mental renewal: it requires transforming one’s mind to discern God’s will rather than adopting the world’s mindset.
• Active service: this involves using personal gifts to build up the church and serving others in love.
A tall order isn’t it?
BUT GOD!
We cannot do this on our own. Not at all.
That’s why we have the Holy Spirit who indwells us when we give our lives to Christ.
He empowers inner transformation and renews the mind.
Romans 12:1 (Message)
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Let’s live our lives daily in surrender to God and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice; our reasonable worship to our amazing God!
Amen and amen!
God bless you!
😊🙏🏽
