“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

I’ve had a tough time getting my mind wrapped around this idea of a “living sacrifice.”  For years, I have equated sacrifice with death.   Ever since I accepted Christ, I figured only the TRUE Christians were willing to die in a strap-a-bomb-to-your-chest-and-run-into-a-crowd type of way. Paul did said “To die is gain…” _Philipians 1:21.  Christian martyrs have always been attractive in my eyes.  Those who would do whatever it takes, to the point of death, in order to spread the Gospel has always been the way I wanted to die.  Furthermore, I get wrapped up in the idea of having to give up more stuff for God to be happier.  Whether it was my life, my money, whatever.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, I was wrong in this thinking.  God doesn’t want us to give up stuff just for the sake of giving it up.  He wants us to give up all our stuff because there is only one thing worth having… life with Jesus! This is HUGE!  Let me say it again, God wants us to give up all our stuff because there is only one thing worth having… life with Jesus.

Look back at Romans 12:1.  The verse does not say, “offer up your bodies as sacrifices.”  It says offer it up as LIVING sacrifices.  Living.  Alive.  Present tense.  Still kicking.  Still fighting.  Right now.  This day.

When I’m dead, I can no longer a weapon in this war.  It’s true that I’ll be living in a perfect heaven with Christ, but I’ll NEVER AGAIN have the opportunity to tell others of the unmatchable love I have.  This truth changes everything.  It’s not enough to say you are willing to die for Jesus.  Rather, are you willing to die THIS DAY to yourself?  to your to-do list?  to black friday? (just kidding… sort of)  Are you willing to take THIS DAY and tell those you love most about the only thing worth having?

Oh, were you expecting a Thanksgiving related post?  MY BAD!  It’s almost time to eat!!!