Spiritual Sacrifice
This is an audio recording of Spiritual Sacrifice the Day 19 entry in Today for Seafarers (Vol. 1) devotional by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Sheila Margerrison or read the text below:
“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. Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Recently some friends and I went to a museum near the Montreal seafarers’ center to see an exhibition on “Archaeology and the Bible.” It was a fascinating exhibit with some of the earliest and most precious evidence for the historical truth of the Old Testament. Although I felt that my faith was nourished by going there, our group noted that many people there did not seem to have come for the same reason. Many other tourists simply wanted to see old and valuable artifacts. They had paid the entry fee to see these ancient religious things on display, but they weren’t interested in God or in worshiping him.
Do we ever do something similar when reading the Bible? Might we sometimes read it more out of custom or entertainment than to connect with God?
We don’t see that attitude reflected in today’s verses from the Bible. The apostle Paul, the writer of those words, does not urge his readers to believe one way and act a different way. He is writing to encourage Christians to live out the Christian life they profess.
Paul exhorts his readers to offer their bodies “as a living sacrifice.” This is revolutionary, for in the Old Testament, sacrifice was a physical reality—an animal was killed, placed on an altar, and burned as a sacrifice for sin. But then Jesus Christ changed all that when he became the final sacrifice. He was offered on the cross “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Therefore, no more animal sacrifices have to be offered. But in gratitude for what Christ has done, Paul urges his readers to offer themselves as a spiritual sacrifice. This happens when our minds are changed or transformed. And this is not just a simple matter of gaining knowledge; this is about wisdom that comes from God.
Being wise means we can know the will of God—what God considers to be good and perfect. Such wisdom comes from God throughout our lives.
For Further Thought
What does it mean that Jesus Christ was sacrificed for us?
Have you experienced the kind of renewal that our passage talks about?
How do we know the will of God?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me to walk within your will so that I may be changed—transformed to be more like Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.
