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.
Romans 12:1 NIV
Living Sacrifice
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has two Crosses of Sacrifice in the United States. One is at the Oakwood Cemetery Annexe in Montgomery, Alabama where there are 78 graves from the Second World War in the cemetery, all Commonwealth airmen who died during training. The other cross is in Arlington National Cemetery, where there is a memorial, specifically to the citizens of the United States who gave their lives while serving in the armed forces of Canada in the First and Second World Wars and in Korea.
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We can use our bodies for good or evil. Most Christians are protected from the worst that people use their bodies for – although we get hints in the news and social media. We who walk with Jesus find our identity in Him – He gives us meaning, direction, and purpose. Sadly, for those who don’t know Him, or trust Him, they find their identity is so many other things. It could be their hobby, their job, their family, their sexuality. What a contrast to what Jesus calls us to in the use of our bodies. The apostle writes this in Romans 12:1: “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.” We are called, daily, to crawl back up on the altar of sacrifice, laying it all down for Jesus. He set the example, laying down His life for us on the Cross – the greatest sacrifice of all. Let’s follow in the footsteps of the Master and offer our bodies as a living sacrifice for Him and others.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley