Worship is about what I say with my tongue. Jago Wynne writes, ‘Our act of worship is no longer to bring a sacrifice, but to be one ourselves. The whole point of the sacrifice was that it was killed. In Old Testament times, ‘living sacrifice’ would be a contradiction in terms. Paul’s description of a living sacrifice also reminds us that you have to go on offering your life as a sacrifice to God, offering the whole of your life for the whole of your life.Īs Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message, ‘Take your every day, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering’ (v.1, MSG). God wants you to offer all of yourself and all of your lives – your time, ambitions, possessions, ears, mouths and sexuality – as well as your mind, emotions and attitudes. Paul continues, ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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’ (12:1, AMP). Paul, having set out all that God has done for us, responds with a sacrifice of praise (Romans 11:33–36). Much of the first eleven chapters of Romans are about the sacrifice of Jesus for us. The writer of Hebrews says, ‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name… for with such sacrifices God is pleased’ (Hebrews 13:15–16). In this passage, we see four sacrifices that you can make in response to Jesus’ sacrifice for you: 1. Commentary Make sacrifices that please God In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”Ģ1 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge I will repay,” says the Lord. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not be conceited.ġ7 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice mourn with those who mourn. Practice hospitality.ġ4 Bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith 7 if it is serving, then serve if it is teaching, then teach 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement if it is giving, then give generously if it is to lead, do it diligently if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Humble Service in the Body of Christģ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. A Living Sacrificeġ2Therefore, 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. Prayerģ3 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!ģ6 For from him and through him and for him are all things. Through that sacrifice, God’s love and holiness were both fully expressed and satisfied and you need make no further sacrifice for sin. The New Testament tells us that God came in the person of his son Jesus Christ to take that penalty by offering himself as the sacrifice for sin. But what would happen if they did not keep the law? If that happened – ‘If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands’ (vv.30–31) – a penalty would be required (v.32). It was a covenant of grace, but it required a response of obedience to the law. God, in his love, made a covenant with David and his people. He said, ‘I will not take my love from him’ (v.33). The faithful witness in the sky.” Commentary Thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus 35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-Īnd his throne endure before me like the sun ģ7 it will be established forever like the moon,
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