What does a living sacrifice look like?
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
We may have read Romans 12:1 many times, but do we ever ask ourselves, “What does a living sacrifice look like?” From verse 9 onwards I think Paul answers this question by describing the spiritual features of those who would respond to his heartfelt appeal. Let’s look at those features:
Genuine love – Let love be without hypocrisy (v. 9),
Compassion and consideration – Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another (v. 10),
Devotedness – Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (v. 11),
Joy, patience, prayerfulness – Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer (v. 12),
Cheerful giving – Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality (v. 13),
Blessing – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (v. 14),
Sympathy – Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (v. 15),
Harmony and humility – Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion (v. 16),
Integrity – Have regard for good things in the sight of all men (v. 17),
Gentleness – … live peaceably with all men (v. 18),
Overcoming – …overcome evil with good (vv. 19-21).
Outside the Tabernacle was a large container, full of water, called the Laver. The priests took water from the Laver to wash. It was made from bronze mirrors donated by the women of Israel (Exodus 38:8). Through its still water, the priests would have seen their reflections as they took the water to cleanse themselves. Most mornings, we look in a mirror to check our appearance. But there is another mirror we need to look into – the word of God. It looks deep into our hearts and souls and it keeps us from being conformed to this world, and transforms us, by the renewing of our minds, into the likeness of the Lord Jesus. It tells us what a living sacrifice looks like. We discover what we are, and we are empowered to become what God wants us to be.
