I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1)

Staying Power

Someone once said “The only trouble with being a living sacrifice is it wants to keep crawling off the altar.”

Being a sacrifice doesn't necessarily mean being martyred but that can be one definition. A sacrifice is giving something willingly that is of great cost to the giver. In this context Paul is speaking of living a life of total consecration to God, sacrificing our sinful natures and desires on the altar of consecrated devotion.  Not just simply to living a “good and moral life” but to inclusion into a living relationship with God. 

But being a spiritual sacrifice hurts and runs counter to our physical and spiritual comforts. The highest and purest example of sacrifice is our Heavenly Father offering His only begotten and perfect Son as the once-for-all forfeit for every sin. That had to hurt and grieve the Father to a depth beyond our comprehension. Jesus said of the sacrificial life to “take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

The cross is death. Taking it up means being willing to die yet in its essence can simply mean “Today, I will obey the law of the land by driving the posted speed limit.” We do it to honor the One who ordained physical law and order (Romans 13:1-2). Doing it as slaves of Christ even when no cop is in sight, remembering the eye of Christ is consistently watching.

The altar of sacrifice was set before us when we first believed. The choice to be on it is ours. Christ put Himself on that altar for us despising the shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:2) receiving all honor, glory, and dominion through it (Jude 1:25).

Crawling onto the altar may mean sacrificing areas of our lives that may be holding us back from the fullness of God's interaction in our lives. Faith and trust in the Holy Spirit's power can keep us on the Altar. Not getting on it might be easier but staying on it will certainly bring spiritual growth and the sweetest communion.

Ken