HOW CAN I PLEASE THE GOD WHO BLESSES ME?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
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)

MEDITATION:
The word “sacrifice” is described in several ways.
When we hear the word, more than likely we think of the following description:
“The act of slaughtering an animal or person as an offering to a deity”.
This describes the sacrifice Jesus made for all mankind 
when He willingly went to the cross for you and me.
He offered Himself as an offering to our Heavenly Father (deity) for our sins.
He took the punishment that we deserve; 
it is the greatest expression of His love for every human being.

But when the scriptures tell us to be a “living sacrifice”, 
what does THAT mean?
It means that we sacrifice without dying physically.
This kind of sacrifice could be described as,
“Surrendering something as an offering to a deity; giving up something 
of perceived value for something regarded as important and worthy”.

So, how does that apply to Christians?
It means that we are willing to give up some things 
as an offering to our Heavenly Father.
A logical question is, “What things?”
In our hearts, we know the answer to that question, don’t we?
We sacrifice the things that displease God for the things that please Him.
We surrender the pleasures of the world for the blessings of heaven.

We replace our sinful desires for the greater cause of having a positive 
influence on those who are lost and need salvation from the Lord.
We replace our selfishness with obedience to God’s commands. 
We learn to have a greater concern for the interest of others, 
which means we sacrifice some of the attention to our own interests. 
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility 
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests 
but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
 
It disappoints us to see how the evils of sin 
appear to flourish and multiply in the world.
However, it may be a greater disappointment when we see the decline 
of committed Christians, who are demonstrating what it means to be 
a “living sacrifice”, which is “holy”, “pleasing to the Lord”, 
and is described in God’s Word as our “spiritual act of worship”.

In a book called “The Age of Longing” 
an American girl married a radical revolutionary in Paris. 
This girl had lost her faith in the Christian life, 
and the things her parents had told her. 
When she was asked why she married a revolutionary, she said, 
“He’s the first person I have ever known who believes in something 
strong enough to die for it. Although I don’t believe exactly as he does, 
I was attracted to this man who had found a cause!”

Years ago, a university student 
made this statement about Communism (aka Socialism), 
“You Christians say that you are going to win the world, but we’ve done 
more in fifty years than you’ve done in two thousand years. And do you know 
why? It is because you are not committed. We are. We will win, you’ll see.”

ACTION:
Have you accepted God’s command for you to become 
a “living sacrifice” as your “spiritual act of worship”?
Like the radical revolutionary in Paris, is your faith in God so strong, 
that others notice your willingness to become a living sacrifice, 
and are attracted to the One you worship?

Are the lost aware of your commitment, surrender, 
obedience, and sacrifice to the Lord?
If you have ever thought, 
“I would like to be a witness for the Lord, 
but I don’t know what to say to a lost person”, 
then Romans 12:1 is a clear message of where you can begin, 
as you wait for the Lord to take you to the next step 
He has for you in witnessing.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to please You, as I perform my spiritual 
act of worship by becoming a living sacrifice. Jesus, thank You for 
becoming a sacrifice for me. Show me the changes I need to make to 
be a living sacrifice in whom others can detect the strength of my faith 
and dedication to You. I pray that others will have a desire to know 
You as they witness my faith in all that I do each day.”

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