"The Living Sacrifice"

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

When a sacrifice was brought to the priest, it was placed in his hands for him to do whatever he pleased with it. It no longer belonged to the person who was bringing it. The Bible says that Jesus is our "High Priest" and those who come to Him (have put their faith and trust in Him as Savior and Lord) are compared to "living sacrifices". As a "living sacrifice" when we present ourselves to Jesus, our High Priest, we are placing ourselves in His hands for Him to do with us whatever He pleases. It is no longer about what we want because this "sacrifice" (ourselves) no longer belongs to us. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) The priest would take the sacrifice and do with it as God had commanded him to do- he was following God's will and plan for the sacrifice. Not only was Jesus the Sacrifice for our sins carrying out the will of the Father in His own life, but as the High Priest, He too- like the priests of old- carries out the will of the Father with the living sacrifices that are presented to Him. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) Therefore, when we present ourselves to Him, He is working in our lives to bring about the will of God for us living sacrifices.

Are you being a living sacrifice? Have you presented yourself to Him for Him to do what He desires to do with your life? Are you in the hands of the High Priest- Jesus? Are you letting His will consume you- your desires, your goals, your plans, your ambition, your will? Or are you resisting His plan and will for your life? Are you being an unwilling sacrifice? There is only one acceptable sacrifice- a willing sacrifice totally surrendered to the hands of the High Priest.

Have a great day. If you are truly a living sacrifice, then it is no longer about you the sacrifice, but about the High Priest's (Jesus) plan for you. You are surrendered into His hands.

For further reading:
Hebrews 3:1; 9:11
1 Peter 2:5

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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