Living Sacrifice - June 11 2007

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

How do we go about offering our bodies as a living sacrifice? As with many things; it’s easier said than done. This week we shall look at some pointers that may help a little.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16-17

We recently celebrated Pentecost, where the Spirit of God was poured out on humankind. As children of God we too have the gift of the Holy Spirit within us, guiding strengthening and transforming. As we spend time in God’s presence we become more aware of the prompting of the Spirit, telling us what we should lay down and what we should take up; in thoughts, words, actions and attitudes.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

This is quite a list of things to lay down; put out of our lives. Some of them, witchcraft perhaps, we may not be too familiar with; others we are all too familiar with. The first step is to recognise and acknowledge to ourselves where we have a problem; whether it be envy, hatred, discord, selfish ambition, sexual immorality etc.

Take time today, now is as good a time as any, to ask the Spirit of God to reveal in our hearts what we need to work on removing from our lives. Then pray for God’s help, strength and encouragement to start the removal process.

Jesus, we are but mere mortals, weak and prone to giving in to temptation. We cannot do this alone. Strengthen our resolve; give us the power to persevere. Help us purify our lives so that we can live more and more as you would wish.

Amen