A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

 ¹ 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. ² 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.

I have been studying these verses quite intently over the past weekend. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Hume Lake Christian Camp as a counselor for my church's high school group. I had been to this camp before as a camper but that was when i was in high school. So about 6 years ago. A lot has changed at that camp since I was student. But the one thing that has remained is the presence of God when these students come into the chapel services. It was truly a blessing to see what God was doing in the lives of these young people. 

The theme of this year was "living an aweful life," that is a life full of awe to the Creator. The speaker did a great job at presenting a relatable message but also a convicting message. He didn't water it down in the least bit. He wanted to make it clear to the students that worship wasn't just singing on sunday morning, but it was how we lived day to day. Our bodies are to be the temple where our worship happens.

The main verse was Romans 12:1-2, "...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. ² 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." These words spoke to me in so many different ways. I took them in from the prospective of a man, a husband, a father, a leader, and a friend. We must be living sacrifices to God daily because He has shown mercy on us. 

Through everything that I had going through my mind at camp, I still had all of the things I was reading and learning about in this class. I felt God really putting on my heart what it means for this to be our true and proper worship. It was almost things I already knew but I really needed to hear that truth again. I was encouraged to not take my worship leading lightly. It deserves time and preparation because it is for God. If we take that same concept to all forms of worship, we will really be worshipping God the way He deserves to be praised.