And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
How can we be living sacrifices when sacrifices are always dead? This sounds like a contradiction in terms. However, this is speaking of the fact that offering ourselves to God is not just a one-time deal. We have to die to our own desires daily. This has to be a living, ongoing commitment to the Lord.
Every football coach sets out to win the next game, but it’s not as simple as just lining up on the field and thumping the opponent. The coach develops a game plan and then sets out to execute the plan.
The whistle blows; it’s game time, time to line up and run the plan. The plan has been scripted, but adjustments are needed. So we make the corrections and run another play. Halftime comes—coaches regroup and plan for more adjustments.
Back on the field, the teams are at it again, running, passing, tackling, and executing the plan. Adjustments are made minute by minute, right up until the final whistle blows. Creating a plan, lining up, running the plays, making the tackles, and adjusting as needed to overcome the opponent. These are all crucial for success and to accomplish the goal.
The plan was the starting place, and adjustments were necessary moment by moment. Likewise, there has to be a plan and a starting place for the decision to be a living sacrifice. We have to “line up and run the play” to start our journey, but we don’t ever “arrive” in this lifetime. We just line up and start toward the goal. Then, we might be making game plan adjustments every two minutes for the rest of our lives.
You see, living sacrifices have a tendency to keep crawling off the altar. Every minute of every day, we need to adjust or be ready to adjust. Keep your head on a swivel; be prepared to recognize the play.
Fix your stance: solid base, feet on the ground, knees bent, flat back, head up, ready to make the play—we must defend the line or cross the goal. Our line is the truth. Our goal is a renewed mind. The world will keep attacking us with different schemes; we need to be ready… we will have to adjust.
We have to reaffirm the decision to be totally separated unto God. Moment by moment, play after play, tackle after tackle, we are transforming ourselves into a new person. This is what Paul was referring to by the term “living sacrifice.” Paul obviously played some ball, probably for the Saints.
Jesus, Paul’s heavenly coach, taught that we should always be seeking and to never give up. Jesus wants us to pursue a relationship with Him and the Father, through prayer, obedience, and a commitment to renewing our minds.
Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
It’s not a one-time thing. Seeking is a constant process, day by day, minute by minute. Seeking is really a lifelong process, as is renewing of the mind.
Ask and seek in faith, and without wavering. Ask and seek according to God’s will, not your own.
Jesus promised that if you ask, seek, and pray while meeting the requirements outlined in God’s Word, HE will always answer you.—Hallelujah!
“I tell you the Truth”
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