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. Romans 12:1
As Romans 12:1 states to present your bodies a living sacrifice. A sacrifice is a place, an act or a victim. To present is to exhibit or yield.
We are often called to yield ourselves to someone which requires us to deny ourselves. We make the choice in obedience to God because it is possible to sacrifice in DISOBEDIENCE if we have not heard the Lord’s voice.
1 Samuel 15:22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
Following the Spirit is necessary or we will be doing our own thing and eventually start complaining or getting burned out. As we hear from God our attitude is most important Psalm 51:17 should be one of a broken spirit and a contrite heart and verse 19 states then shall thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness.
Jesus yielded His body for us, the ultimate sacrifice {victim} for you and me. As we rush around our busy lives may we take time to look around and see if the Lord wants us to yield our body to speak or help someone who needs a touch from God.
Ginny I.